Maldives can be saved
This time we are thinking about a serious problem, one of our friendly nations and a member of SARC countries, Maldives is facing.
President Mohamed Nasheed of Maldives government announced last year; plans to look into purchasing new land in India, Sri Lanka and Australia, due to his concerns about global warming and the possibility of much of the islands being inundated with water from rising sea levels. Current estimates place sea level rise at 59 centimeters (23 in) by the year 2100. He said;
“We do not want to leave the Maldives, but we also do not want to be climate refugees living in tents for decades”.
To resolve this problem I suggest following remedy. I do not think that they will have to shift anywhere if they raise the ground level by method given below. Before we read my suggestion let us first know some basic information about this archipelago, in Maldivian language Atoll.
Basic information about this archipelago
The Maldives consists of approximately 1,190 coral islands grouped in a double chain of 26 atolls (a Maldivian language word, meaning ‘a ring shaped coral islands’), along the north-south direction, spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometers, making this one of the most disparate countries in the world. The atolls are composed of live coral reefs and sand bars, situated atop a submarine ridge 960 kilometers long that rises abruptly from the depths of the Indian Ocean and runs from north to south. Only near the southern end of this natural coral barricade do two open passages permit safe ship navigation from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other through the territorial waters of Maldives. For administrative purposes the Maldives government organized these atolls into twenty one administrative divisions. The largest island of Maldives is Gan, which belongs to Laamu Atoll or Hahdhummathi Maldives. In ‘Addu Atoll’ the westernmost islands are connected by roads over the reef and the total length of the road is 14 km.
The Maldives holds the record for being the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 meters (7 ft 7 in), with the average being only 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, although in areas where construction exists, this has been increased to several meters. The reef is composed of coral debris and living coral. This acts as a natural barrier against the sea, forming lagoons. Other islands set at a distance and parallel to the reef, have their own protective fringe of reef. An opening in the surrounding coral barrier allows access to the calmer lagoon waters. The barrier reefs of the islands protect them from the storms and high waves of the Indian Ocean.
A layer of humus 152-millimeter (6.0 in) -thick forms the top layer of soil on the islands. Below the humus layer are 2 feet (0.61 m) of sandstone, followed by sand and then fresh water. Due to high levels of salt in the soil near the beach, vegetation is limited there to a few plants such as shrubs, flowering plants and small hedges. In the interior of the island, more vegetation such as mangrove and banyan grow. Coconut palms, the national tree, are able to grow almost everywhere on the islands and are integral to the lifestyle of the population.
Climate
Two seasons dominate Maldives’ weather; the dry season associated with the winter northeast monsoon and the rainy season brought by the summer southwest monsoon. In Maldives, the wet southwest monsoon lasts from the end of April to the end of October and brings strong winds and storms. The annual rainfall averages 2,540 millimeters (102 inch) in the north and 3,810 millimeters (158 inch) in the south. Because of eight months of rainy season potable water is not a serious problem. Proper storage of water makes the country suitable for hotel business. Waste disposal to avoid environmental hazards will be done by first compacting the waste material into pressed cakes and then those cakes will be lowered in the sea within the region of the coral reef.
Environmental issues
Over the last century, sea levels have risen about 20 centimeters (8 in); further rises of the ocean could threaten the existence of Maldives, being the lowest country in the world, with a maximum natural ground level of only 2.3 meters (7 ft 7 in), with the average being only 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) above sea level. However, around 1970, the sea level there dropped 20–30 centimeters (8–12 in).
To resolve this problem, Basic concept details
After knowing the basic information of the island we can work out the plan to raise the ground level of this archipelago. Fundamental method that will be used is to first build a barricade of large sized boulders (average weight 200 kg.) on the periphery of each island. Height of the boulder wall will be about 20 feet and width also about 20 feet. after placing boulders in position using cranes the gaps in between the rocks will be filled by concrete mix. Top will be finished with stone slabs and the sides will be plastered with concrete rich in cement (water proof) no steel will be used in the construction of this wall. A gap of 40 feet is kept between the actual shore and the wall out side surface like a terrace. This will be filled with heavy boulders (average weight 500 kg.) to make a buffer so that the thrashing water waves will be arrested and the wall will be saved from the ravaging effects of the waves.
We expect that the coral shall grow in due course on these rocks and the wall; build the natural binding to make them last long; that means no special measures will be required to maintain this buffer.
After the barricade is completely built, the surface of the ground which is naturally coated with humus is scraped and kept in heaps on one side. The opened sandstone ground surface is now filled with imported sand and soil up till one foot below the top level (20 feet) of the bordering barricade. The fillings are compacted by rolling. After the compacting sand and soil filling, original top soil of humus which has been removed and kept, will be spread over it; again roller pressed and the ground is created. After this bore well are done to get the rain water that is stored within the sandstone below.
How to get material
Indian coast is the near most and so primarily we can say that Indian main land material will be sold for the purpose. This will save the cost of ferry. Indian contractors from Kerala and Mangalore will do the work. If proved cheap, sand filling may be brought from the Arabian Gulf and soil from Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
How to finance
According to one estimate the total cost could be about 120 billion USD. Maldives government can issue bonds in the international market; each bond of 100 USD. At the interest suitably calculated. To pay back the loan money Maldives island nation will have a few options,
- To encourage tourism,
- To encourage free port market economy on the line as Dubai,
- To develop economy based on casinos like Monaco at France.
All these three can be encouraged and that will earn enough revenue to repay the loan with interest. In view of the fact that, all the three options suggested here are prone to damage basic cultural values of this country it is recommended that these activities shall be allowed on certain islands where local people do not regularly live. Connecting these islands by a regular yatch ferry service so that local people will be going to work on the islands but will not stay there. This will help keep the privacy of the people intact. If free port market economy is encouraged a few important jobs will have to be done by foreign people, they will stay on those islands and they will not stay on islands where local people are living. This will help avoid cultural pollution of which particularly Islamic societies are wary.
I expect the work will take at least 20 years to complete the barricade and land filling and repayment may be completed in about 60 years hence.
You may contact me on my Email ID given below,
I invite you to visit my other blog if you are interested in stories.
You may visit, Freedom of Expression for intelligent discussions.
|
 |