An environmental impact assessment has not been performed on the government’s promised bridge between the capital, Male, and Hulhumale, meaning implications on the environment remain unknown.

One of President Gayoom’s top manifesto pledges, the ruling Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party have said the bridge will solve the problems of overcrowding, drugs and crime in Male’.

But the Environment Minister on Sunday said the government had not performed any environmental assessment, despite President Gayoom saying last month that the engineering designs had been completed.

Bridge

Asked on Sunday, recently appointed Minister of Environment, Water and Energy Dr. Abdulla Mausoom said: "I do not believe a full EIA or a Strategic Environment Assessment has been done."

But he insisted the bridge would increase the standard of living and would be "a sign of development and prosperity" adding, "it would add to the aesthetic value of the area."

"If people need to survive, economic activity must be welcomed," he added.

The bridge is seen as one of the most significant development pledges by the ruling Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP), made ahead of presidential elections.

In early September, President Gayyoom said on a presidential candidates' question and answer program, "if I become in charge of the government, one of my main goals is to construct a bridge that will connect Male' and Hulhumale'."

"This is not just a plan. I have the drawings by engineers and architects. A lot of problems will be solved because of this,” he said.

Sustainable

The government's environment policy will ensure garbage disposal units in each atoll by 2013, as well as plans to reduce dependence on oil and increase solar power, Mausoom said on Sunday.

He also maintained the construction of a bridge would be a "step forward" in the country's development.

While acknowledging the impact a bridge could have on the demand for unsustainable land transport, Dr Mausoom said: "I am confident by 2010 there will be affordable fuel efficient land transport systems."

But a leading environmental expert, who wished to remain anonymous, told Minivan News he believed the initiative would have a “very serious impact” on the capital, Male.

"A bridge will increase the cost of living with additional fees and tolls...it will increase congestion and decrease quality of living" he said. "A little over 600,000 people use our airport.

While majority of them are tourists only a few Maldivians will use the bridge, would it be wise to have a bridge?" he added.

Pollution

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in June issued a report saying some families live in "slum conditions", with Malé identified as the world's most densely populated city.

Environmental experts say the largest environmental problem Maldives face today is the increase of solid waste pollution, particularly plastic bottles in the sea. Asked on Sunday,

Mausoom said, "Minor things [solid waste pollution] must be managed...we should facilitate to change people's behavior”.

President Gayoom has promoted environmentalism in the international arena and is credited as one of the most vocal leaders about the threat of global warming.

Maldives is seen as among the most under threat from rising sea levels with three-quarters of its islands standing no more than 1.3 metres sea level.

But the government has come under fire for its domestic policies in the area, including land reclamation, sand mining, shark fisheries and recently initiated reef resort development.