Baa Atoll, Maldives — Villa Shipping and Trading Company Pvt Ltd has been fined with over MVR 83,000 for illegally taking coral sand off the beaches of an island in Baa atoll.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Maldives informed that a vehicle of Villa Shipping and Trading Company had taken coral sand from Dhigufaru in Baa atoll. The coral sands were taken for the Royal Island Resort & Spa in Maldives that is under the Villa Shipping and Trading Company.
According to EPA, the Villa company took excessive amount of coral sand from Dhigufaru and did not stop their work even when EPA urged them to.
Under the “Penalty for Breaking the Law and Damaging the Environment of Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives”, EPA has fined Villa company with MVR 83,750 for taking so much coral sand from the island and for defying the orders of EPA. EPA has instructed the Villa Company to pay the fine for violations within 30 days.
