PRESS RELEASE; ECOCARE condemns the decision to develop an Airport in H.Dh. Kulhuduffushi
HDh. Kulhuduffushi, Maldives. Photo: Google maps
PRESS RELEASE 12th February 2014 (In addition to our 26th January 2014, Press Release:)
Ecocare Maldives would like to remind all concerned authorities including the President, Cabinet and other institutions such as the Ministry of Environment and Energy to honor and uphold the constitution of Maldives.
Article 22 of the Maldivian Constitution says that the State has a fundamental duty to protect and preserve the natural environment, biodiversity, resources and beauty of the country for the benefit of present and future generations. The State shall undertake and promote desirable economic and social goals through ecologically balanced sustainable development and shall take measures necessary to foster conservation, prevent pollution, the extinction of any species and ecological degradation from any such goals.
We strongly condemn the decision by the current administration to develop an Airport in H.Dh. Kulhuduffushi. We recommend all authorities to focus on the development of a speedy sea transportation/ferry network between Kulhuduffushi and Hanimaadhoo to meet the needs of the locals.
By reclaiming the H.Dh. Kulhuduffushi Mangrove area for the development of an economically less viable Airport in the region, the government is dishonoring the Constitution where it says that the state has the fundamental duty to protect and preserve the natural environment, biodiversity, resources and beauty of the country for the benefit of present and future generations.
Developing an Airport in Kulhudhuffushi, 16.6 km off Hanimaadhoo International Airport is neither environment friendly nor economically sound. We urge authorities to reconsider the decision and to respect the natural environment. We also at this time remind senior government officials that it is development that should not be an obstacle to Nature and not the other way around. As responsible adults we request all actors to collectively work for the conservation and preservation of our very fragile environment.
ECOCARE MALDIVES
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For more information please contact: Maeed M. Zahir Programs and Campaigns ECOCARE Maldives +960 7873692 maeed.zahir@ecocare.mv