EPA notifies ministry to replace every tree cut down for Link Road project, with two trees

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has notified the Ministry of Home Affairs to replace every palm tree that has been cut down for the construction of the Link Road in Laamu Atoll, with two palm trees.

This has been confirmed to Sun Online by Director General of EPA Ibrahim Naeem, who said that this follows the regulation on cutting down trees.

“Home Ministry has said that they do not have a choice. But we have to look for other possibilities. Palm trees are in high demand; they are needed by new resorts, Gulhifalhu, and Thilafalhu. If the trees were made available to those who need them, it could have saved costs for the government as well,” said Naeem.

The Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure has said that as preparation for the construction of the Link Road, 357 palm trees would be cut down in Maandhoo, 443 in Kadhdhoo, 1,282 in Gan, and 454 in Fonadhoo.

Following the notification from EPA, a total of 5,072 trees must be planted to replace them.

The $30 million Link Road project is expected to be completed in 18 months.

The 15.1 km road would connect the islands of Fonadhoo and Gan in Laamu Atoll. The project will be carried out by China’s Jiangsu Provincial Transport Engineering Group. The agreement regarding this project was signed between the two governments during the visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Maldives, in September 2014.