Maumoon expresses concern over decision to blast reefs

Leader of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has become the latest politician to express concern over the decision to use dynamite to blast coral reefs to create a channel in Meedhoo, Addu City.

Maumoon tweeted on Wednesday that the country had stopped using explosives to blast coral reefs 10 years ago because of the damage to the reefs, marine life and infrastructure of nearby islands.

10 years ago we stopped blasting coral reefs because it caused damage to marine life, physical reef integrity & infrastructure on land. 1/2

— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) November 16, 2016

He said that using explosives wasn’t something the country should ever go back to so that the environment of Maldives is protected.

The tweets come after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave the go-ahead to blast the coral reefs in Meedhoo.

We must never resort to it again if we want to protect our marine and land environment. 2/2

— Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) November 16, 2016

The Environment Impact Assessment submitted by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure to EPA says the vibration and sound of the explosions would kill of a large percentage of the marine life, fracture the reefs, affect structure of some old buildings nearest to the beach, and result in temporary murky waters.

The report says the sound of explosions can be heard a distance of five kilometers.

It stressed that the damage to the geology of the reefs was irreversible.

None of the other approaches to cut a channel in Meedhoo; use of drop hammer, or use of air gun had worked.