The Minister of Environment Aminath Shauna has sustained the initial fine of MVR 69 million on Afcons Infrastructure, the contractor handling the development of the Thilamale’ Bridge project.
The ministry issued a statement on Tuesday, November 14, nearly a year after the appeal was filed with the ministry by the contractor, that there was no reason to alter the initial decision which was decided based on the damage assessment survey of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The collapse of a bridge survey platform used by Afcons atop Vilimale’ reef left the area significantly damaged.
Afcons contested the ministry’s fine with an appeal on December 7, 2022.
The ministry in its statement said that the legal team’s report concluded on January 23, 2023 which recommended seeking professional opinion from maritime experts. The case was then submitted to the Center for Maritime Studies of the Maldives National University (MNU) on May 11 for further assessment.
The university completed the assessment on July 23.
“The ministry had discovered that there was reasonably acceptable room for the contractor to take control measures to restrict its crash on the reef. As such, the ministry does not see any reason to alter the EPA fine on the case,” the ministry’s statement read.