'EPA will no longer have the freedom it has so far had'

11 hours ago

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been renamed the Environmental Regulatory Authority (ERA) and placed under the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, a move that has sparked significant concern among environmental advocates.  Critics argue this change severely restricts the agency's ability to conduct independent Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and effectively protect the Maldives' fragile environment. Previously, the EPA operated with a degree