The Environment Ministry in a tweet has addressed the viral video showing the destruction of a sand bank. The video shows some people digging a trench separating a sand bank in two.
In their tweet, the Ministry of Environment informs that EPA Maldives is investigating and issue and that action will be taken against the responsible parties under the Environment Act.
@EPAMaldives currently investigating a reported incident where a group of people have dug a narrow channel/trench on a small sandbank located to the west of #Himmafushi. EPA is working with @PoliceMv & other authorities to take action against the responsible parties under Env Act
— Ministry of Environment (@MoEnvmv) January 22, 2021
According to local news sources the Maldives Police Service is investigating this incident, and has informed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Maldives. The sandbank is located near the Gili Lankanfushi Resort and K. Himmafushi island, and the destruction was caused allegedly by employees of the luxury resort.
This incident comes to light at a time when there is rising public concern over the regulation that permits resorts to dispose waste directly into the ocean and the Parliament of Maldives is working to amend the regulation.
