The incumbent government has decided to terminate a contract to develop a resort at Odegalla island in Gaafu Alifu atoll.
Tourism Minister Ali Waheed revealed this at a press conference on Sunday, hours after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rejected the proposal citing “environmentally sensitive site.”
While the project was awarded to Hotels and Resorts Construction (HRC) -owned by the President of Maldives Association of Construction Industry (MACI), Mohamed Ali Janah- by the previous administration, the minister said that he had met with Janah on Sunday morning to discuss the matter.
He noted that the agreement between the government and HRC is “legally binding,” but that the current administration has decided to terminate the project so as to fulfill its pledges to the people.
As such, he stated that the current administration came to power with certain vows to the people on how things will run, including strengthening environmental protection.
Further noting that the matter has been discussed with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Waheed said that they are now deliberating with HRC on how to move ahead with the issue.
“We, the tourism ministry believes that our biggest priority should be to ensuring the people’s trust, and to listen to the people. In addition, we have to handle things in a manner that investor confidence is not lost”Minister Ali Waheed
The minister further stated that the previous administration had not paid any heed to “sustainability or the environment,” adding that this had led to a “difficult” situation for both investors and the people.
EPA had, in its decision to reject the Odegalla resort project, said that the uninhabited island “acts as significant bird nesting and roosting site, seasonal nesting for turtles (according to locals) and is rich in marine biodiversity with a healthy reef.”
“Development of a resort in this island will lead to irreversible damage to the local environment, especially the loss of bird roosting characteristics of the island.”Minister Ali Waheed
The EPA report was done in collaboration with Ministry of Environment and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultants.
Further noting that Odegalla island is an important fishing location of the atoll and “one of the few that remains,” EPA said that the development of a resort “will lead to significant socioeconomic impacts to fisher community of Gaafu Dhaalu atoll, Addu City and Fuvahmulah City.”
