Madam Speaker, I am informed that on 29 November 2023, work orders amounting to a total sum of Rs66 m., inclusive of VAT, were issued under the framework agreement of the Road Development Authority to Gamma Construction Ltd to undertake the drain works over a stretch of some 800 meters along Old Moka Road up to Rivière Sèche located near the MCB building with a view to mitigating flooding at St Jean. The region of St Jean, being a densely populated area with an extensive network of buried services, appropriate measures had to be undertaken to prevent any disruption in the existing services and to avoid inconvenience to the inhabitants thereat. Consequently, trial pit works had to be carried out to identify buried services. The works which started on 13 November 2023 were expected to be completed by 30 May 2024. However, the project has not yet been completed for various reasons. This project has been

69 declared an emergency whereby the risk to life and damage to property were significant. Yet, it has been delayed for almost one year. Since my assumption of office as minister, I have expressed my dissatisfaction with the progress made up to now. I have chaired several meetings with different stakeholders to remove all bottlenecks being encountered and to expedite the completion of the project. I have been informed that the delays in the project were the result of major relocation and realignment works pertaining to the extensive underground services, such as the CWA waterlines, Emtel lines, Mauritius Telecom lines and sewer lines. I also wish to highlight that due to major relocation, realignment works and the increase in volume of excavation, the cost of the project now stands at some Rs180 m., for which financial clearance has already been secured. Madam Speaker, I am further informed that the relocation of all underground services has now been completed, except for the relocation of the sewer lines, which is ongoing and expected to be completed by 22 February 2025. As at date, 70% of the works have been completed. The drain is expected to be functional by 26 February 2025, and the whole project is expected to be completed by 15 March 2025. Madam Speaker, let me reassure the House that in the event of heavy rainfall in the region of St Jean, prior to the completion of the project, both the consultant and the contractor have been requested to ensure that all measures are taken to avoid flooding and associated damages. The contractor has also been requested to mobilise mobile pumps of adequate capacity in standby mode along with water carrier lorries to pump out water at the cemetery’s entrance if required. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Yes!

Je vous remercie, Madame la présidente. Je remercie le ministre également pour sa réponse. Madame la présidente, des tombes provenant du cimetière de St- Jean ont envahi la cour des habitants. Un projet supposément en mode fast-track accuse un retard indécent. Nous parlons de 250 tombes endommagées, Madame la présidente. C’est grave ! Et tout cela, sous l’ancien régime ! Les habitants de St Jean vivent dans la peur à chaque grosse pluie. Vu la grande urgence, est-ce que le ministre envisage d’organiser un site visit dans les plus brefs délais avec les différents départements concernés, s’il vous plaît, parce que je peux vous dire que les habitants vivent dans une grande peur. Merci, Madame la présidente.

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Madam Speaker, the hon. Member is right in saying that this project was supposed to be an emergency project. It took one year because there was no follow-up action and because we had many stakeholders involved – the CWA, the Telecom, and Emtel. I have gone through the file, and I have not seen any meeting chaired by the former minister, at least to expedite matters so that the project can go fast. We can imagine that now the project has gone up from Rs66 m. to Rs180 m. It has taken nearly one year, putting the lives of people in danger there. So, now, as soon as I assumed office, I chaired meetings so that we can expedite matters. As I have said to the hon. Member, we are expecting the completion of the project by 15 March. The drain will be functional on 26 February, and the whole project will be functional by 15 March. But I have no objection to having a site visit. We can fix a common date so that we can go on site and explain to the people. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, the hon. Second Member for Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes. CANDOS GOVERNMENT SCHOOL – ROAD SAFETY MEASURES