Regulations amended to exempt road construction and housing projects from EIA requirements
The government has amended the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations to expedite development projects by identifying 25 categories of work that no longer require a formal assessment. This regulatory shift provides significant exemptions for housing, road construction, and waste management projects, as well as certain agricultural activities and private works.
A massive building under construction in Hulhumale': Regulatory changes remove the requirement for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) prior to the construction of large-scale buildings. | Atoll Times | Atoll Times
The government has amended regulations to exempt certain development projects in the Maldives from the requirement to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). This change was introduced by the Ministry of Environment through an amendment to the existing regulations governing the preparation of environmental impact assessment reports.
This amendment introduces significant changes to the list of projects exempt from Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). According to the government, the primary objective of these changes is to expedite development projects by eliminating administrative hurdles and streamlining the implementation process.
According to the newly released list, a total of 25 categories of development activities have been identified that can now proceed without the requirement of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). These include public housing projects, as well as the construction and asphalting of island roads. Furthermore, maintenance work on quay walls and jetties that does not alter their original structures, along with the establishment of waste management centers on islands, are also among the activities now exempt from the EIA process.
Under these amendments, significant exemptions have been granted for agricultural activities and certain personal land use. Consequently, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) will no longer be required for farming on plots smaller than 5,000 square feet in inhabited islands, residential gardening, or the installation of household wells for personal use.
Amendments were also made to these regulations last year under the guise of expediting government projects. Those amendments mandated that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports for initiatives designated as "national development projects" by the Cabinet or a Cabinet committee must be completed promptly and without delay.
Furthermore, significant changes were made to the administrative framework for environmental protection last year. Notably, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was renamed the "Environmental Regulatory Authority" (ERA), accompanied by substantial reforms to its management and core responsibilities.
