Daniel Nyassy
6 July 2009
Nairobi — Residents of Watamu village in Malindi district are once again embroiled in a row with an environmental agency over a Sh 1 billion foreign investment project.
The residents want the National Environmental Tribunal (NET) to endorse the Sh 1 billion Medina Palms Development (MPD) 50 apartment project next to Hemingway Beach Hotel in Watamu.
NET has allegedly stopped the project on environmental grounds. It has not approved a biodigester to be operated by the apartments claiming it will allow effluent into the sea.
But the residents and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have disputed the claims saying several beach hotels and apartments in the area and in the Coast operate a similar biodigester.
The controversy comes up only months after the NET stopped the Sh 150 million Blue Lagoon apartments project on a cliff near the Medina Palms Development site.
The residents led by Watamu location chief Mr Michael Katana are collecting signatures to petition NET and pressurize it to allow the project to go ahead.
"At the moment we have collected 350 signatures of locals. We are collecting more and we shall face the authorities when we have at least 1,000 signatures," said the chief.
The Sh 1 billion Medina Palms Development project is undertaken by British investors while the Sh 150 million Blue Lagoon project, which has just been halted, was undertaken by Italian investors.
NEMA, Malindi Municipal Council and local environmental organizations have approved the Medina Palms Development project. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has already been done and passed.
Councillor Barke Mohamed who is the chairperson of the council environment committee said residents supported the project which would create many jobs for local youths.
"The proprietors of the project have met all the environmental conditions. They are setting the apartments outside the 30 metrel riparian area and 60 meters from the high water mark. They have planted trees and preserved every natural feature. They are perfect environmentally," she said.
Councillor Barke read mischief on the part of NET and business rivalry in the whole thing and urged the Government to support the residents in okaying the project.
"We want the project to go on. It will create many jobs and help the community greatly," she said.
Minister for Tourism Mr Najib Balala who describes the project as environmentally sensitive, has supported it.
In a statement, Mr Balala says; "Medina Palms which is an environmentally sensitive residential development is an exciting project and it has my personal support".
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