The Vaavu atoll council, last week, expressed concern over the government's plans to lease Medhufinolhu lagoon to Kaani Hotels for the development of a resort. The letter signed by Vaavu atoll council President Shujau Ali was shared on social media.
The letter highlights two main points - leasing a lagoon within the jurisdiction of the atoll council without consultation with the council and the damage the project may cause to the adjacent protected area of Vaavu Miyaru Kandu.
Despite the council's concern, Miyaru Kandu is not adjacent to Medhufinolhu lagoon. Adhadhu used Google Earth to calculate the distance between the Medhufinolhu lagoon and Miyaru Kandu, which is 3.4 kilometers.
Kahanbu Thila Falhu is to the north of Medhufalhu while Bolikey Faru is to the west. Both these sites are not protected areas. The protected Miyaru Kandu is located west of the Alimatha Resort adjacent to Bolikey Faru. So it is false to state that the Miyaru Kandu is adjacent to the Medhu Finolhu lagoon.
According to the Environment Ministry's rules, 30 percent of the lagoons allocated for resorts and industrial uses such as agriculture can be reclaimed. The sand burrowing sites are also determined under the rules.
Under the Environment Protection Act, sand burrowing areas must be at least 200 metres away from protected sites. But rules were changed in April to allow sand burrowing from these areas with the permission of the Cabinet.
