Pres. Muizzu moves to abolish EPA
President Muizzu has abolished the Environmental Protection Agency and transferred its functions to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment
Green building completely burnt down due to a fire incident that started at the neighboring Housing Ministry building
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
After dissolving EPA, which was entrusted with the crucial responsibility of protecting and maintaining the Maldives' delicate environment, the president has also decided to transfer its functions under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.
Further, Muizzu has instructed to shorten and expedite the process of conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for projects, and to modify regulations and procedures to facilitate faster implementation of development projects.
The government's decision to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency comes amid controversy, as the agency's former headquarters, the Green Building, was destroyed by fire earlier in the current administration.
With the destruction of the Green Building, the government also abolished the Environment Ministry and transferred its functions to the Tourism Ministry.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Maldives was established on 18 December 2008, by a decree of former President Mohamed Nasheed. It was created by merging the Environmental Research Center and the Maldives Water and Sanitation Authority.
Established as an independent agency, EPA's responsibilities included protecting, safeguarding, and managing the environment and species, waste management, and preventing environmental pollution.
One of the EPA's most important functions involved all work related to reports on environmental impacts of development projects.
