Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Land Drainage Authority that the City Centre of Port Louis has been declared a high-risk prone area in August 2019. The region of Port Louis, particularly the city centre, is highly exposed to the floodwater emanating from the mountain range, that is, Le Pouce and Signal Mountain, and is bordered by the mountain range upstream and is, in fact, a trough, that is a “cuvette” by nature of its topography, and downstream it is bordered by the sea. Accordingly, the discharge of surface runoff is highly dependent on the tidal levels at the discharge point, which is Bassin Caudan. In the event of a concurrent scenario of a torrential rain and storm surge, the evacuation of floodwaters is inhibited due to the effect of tidal locking. This causes a rapid rise in the water level in the low points, namely at Poudrière Street, Ruisseau du Pouce, Caudan and La Chaussée Street, amongst others. Madam Speaker, the flood-mitigating measures earmarked within the region of Port Louis include the following – • Drain along Lord Kitchener Street; • Drain along Dr. Raoul Rivet Street; • Drain along Pope Hennessy Street; • raising of walls along Ruisseau de Créole stream; • raising of banks along Le Pouce stream; • reconstruction of bridges along Le Pouce stream, and • upgrading of Boulevard Victoria Bridge, Vallée Pitot. The following projects have been completed – • drain works at Caudan along Motorway M1 at Place d’Armes; • drain works at Cité Rosemont, Vallée Pitot; • drains works at Boulevard Rivaltz, Tranquebar; • drains works at Jules Mallac, Tranquebar; • upgrading of Canal Anglais;

38 • construction baffle tank near STR Marketing, and • removal of cover slabs in front of Winners. The raising of walls along Ruisseau du Pouce consists – (i) raising of the existing bank walls, varying from 0.5 metres to 3 metres at different locations, and (ii) reconstruction of several bridges across Ruisseau du Pouce, including Gayasingh Bridge and two bridges in Caudan premises. The first phase of the project comprises the raising of the walls up to the deck of the existing bridges and is currently ongoing. In view of the constraints within the region of Port Louis, the proposal of implementing a cut-off drain at the foot of Le Pouce and Moneron Hill is being looked into by the Drains Infrastructure Construction Ltd. The geotechnical investigation is currently ongoing. Madam Speaker, I am further informed that the Municipal City Council of Port Louis carried out desilting and cleaning works along the stretch of Ruisseau du Pouce, in the vicinity of Crown Land Tory, Tranquebar, in February and April 2024. In addition, all the concrete slabs over Ruisseau du Pouce have been removed from ex- Majestic Cinema to Brown Sequard Street and from Brown Sequard Street to Chaussée Street. 90% of the works have been completed. As regards the demolition of the KFC outlet, as at date, 95% of the works have been completed, and for the demolition works at the parking spaces of MEDCOR and Rogers Co. Ltd., bids are being evaluated. Madam Speaker, with regard to Rivulet Pailles, desilting works along the St Louis River were effected over a stretch of 4.670 km in May 2024. The council has effected the clearing of the watercourse from overgrown vegetation and removal of obstructive materials, especially in the region of Avenue Cardinal 5 in November and December 2024. Madam Speaker, as for measures to mitigate the risk of flooding in the vicinity of Crown Land Tory, I am informed by the LDA that a drain project has been identified for

39 implementation thereat. In this respect, the NDU carried out two bidding exercises for the appointment of a contractor for the construction of a flood wall at Nazareth, Tranquebar. The scope of works comprises, inter alia, the following – • construction of a flood wall over an approximate stretch of 400 m on both sides of Le Pouce stream; • backfilling compaction and reinstatement of roads; • concrete lining of riverbed over an approximate stretch of 400 m, and • desilting works over an approximate stretch of 125 m. However, as the bids received were unresponsive, both bidding exercises were cancelled. Madam Speaker, following the unsuccessful bidding exercises carried out by the NDU, the project was referred to the Drains Infrastructure Construction Ltd for implementation. A first invitation for bids was launched, but no recommendation for award was made. Therefore, a second bidding exercise was carried out, and financial clearance is awaited before an award can be made. Thank you.

Yes, Dr. Aumeer!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. May I ask the hon. Minister, as far as Rivulet Pailles is concerned, whether his Ministry will leave no stone unturned as to the illegal construction of a poultry building that has been the cause of deviation torrential rain over the inhabitants living in Cardinal 5 and causing major chaos?

I will certainly look into it because I am now being informed by the Member. So, I will look into it.

Yes.

I have heard a very exhaustive reply from the hon. Minister and I am glad to say that a lot of works are being planned for the inhabitants of Camp Tory, Tranquebar, particularly Le Pouce stream. May I ask the hon. Minister, until and so forth, these works are

40 to be completed and in the advent of summer rains coming up, particularly torrential rains, whether he will make it a priority that those houses that have been earmarked in Tranquebar and along Mgr. Leen, particularly the six families, these people will be given priority of relocation or at least be evacuated promptly during torrential rains to avoid casualties? Thank you.

As far as the evacuation plan is concerned, there is an evacuation plan being prepared and has been circulated between different ministries. Among the evacuation plan, we have voluntary evacuation and also mandatory evacuation. So, we will act, obviously, when we come in front of the situation.

Next question, hon. First Member for Montagne Blanche and Grand River South East, Mr Baboolall! PELLEGRIN, SEBASTOPOL, BRAMSTHAN, BEL AIR & BEAU CHAMP – WATER SUPPLY