Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched an investigation after construction waste from Robinson Club Maldives Resort was transferred and buried in Gaaf Alif Nilandhoo island by a private company.
EPA Director General Ibrahim Naeem told Adhadhu that it is prohibited to transfer waste to other islands under any circumstances and that an investigation was underway following complaints about Nilandhoo island.
"We have received complaints about it. We are investigating the matter. It is prohibited to take waste generated in a resort to another island," Naeem said.
Residents from Nilandhoo told Adhadhu that the waste was transferred to the island three months ago and they were told that the waste would be transported to Thilafushi industrial island.
But the work to bury the waste began a week ago, one person said, adding that it was buried in huge pits dug to for road construction.
"Instead of taking the debris to Thilafushi, they submitted to the council that they would build a road in Nilandhoo. They cleaned part of the road around the island near the wetland and dug holes about 100 feet and 150 feet deep and buried the debris before levelling the ground," he said about the private company tasked with waste disposal.
However, Nilandhoo Council President Naasih Ibrahim told Adhadhu that he did not believe that the items transferred to the island were waste and insisted that they were transferred at the council's request.
He added that items that might be useful such as wood, tin and toilet accessories were salvaged while the rest were buried as the road near the wetland area had become too muddy.
"They are not burying. Some of the materials needed to build the road are being put there because it is very muddy; that is not garbage. We brought those things because we wanted them. Waste is things that are thrown away or that cannot be used," he said.
Noting that no study and no consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was required for the work, Naasih reiterated that he did not believe that the debris was used to build the road.
The waste generated in the resorts is usually transferred to Thilafushi, but there are also huge costs involved in the transport. Some residents of Nilandhoo allege wrongdoing involved in the transfer of debris to the island.
