Speaker of the Parliament and former President Mohamed Nasheed says the parliament and Environment Protection Agency EPA are recommending new and stronger measures to protect the coral reefs near the ongoing dredging work in Gulhi Falhu.
In a tweet, Nasheed said that he believed that the government would accept these recommendations from the parliament and EPA. He went onto say that the Gulhi Falhu work is important and brings many benefits. He also said that the destruction of local reefs couldn’t be allowed.
Earlier, Nasheed said that without land reclamation in the Male’ Area, the overpopulation and congestion of the Capital cannot be solved.
He said this in a tweet, after meeting with the Director-General of EPA Ibrahim Naeem in the parliament building today.
Nasheed added that many of the developmental work has negative effects on the environment.
His comments coincide with harsh criticism online aim at the government for its reclamation of Gulhifalhu for the port development project planned by the authorities.
Environmental activists have been voicing their concerns via online platforms saying that this project would have devastating effects on the nearby Villimale Reef and dive sites and called on authorities to stop developmental projects that threaten natural ecosystems and marine life.
Several MPs have also raised concerns on the issue stating that the project would leave long-lasting and possibly permanent damages to the reefs nearby.
