the social housing units under construction in Constituency No. 9, he will, for the benefit of the House, ob…
(No. B/981) Mr R. Beechook (Second Member for Flacq & Bon Accueil) asked the Minister of Housing and Lands whether, in regard to the social housing units under construction in Constituency No. 9, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the National Housing Development Company Ltd., and the New Social Living Development Ltd., information as to 45 where matters stand, indicating the expected completion dates and delivery to the beneficiaries thereof.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am informed that the construction of 507 social housing units is currently being undertaken in Constituency No. 9. The NHDC is constructing 45 housing at Quatre Cocos and 72 housing units at Camp Ithier. The project, including onsite and offsite works at Quatre Cocos, is expected to be completed by the end of this year while the project at Camp Ithier would be completed in January 2026. Conversely, the NSLD is constructing 178 housing units at Camp Ithier and 212 housing units at Quatre Cocos. The expected completion dates are 30 November 2025 and 31 July 2026. However, …
Take your breath. Take your breath!
It is a private matter that we shared with the DPM. However, the offsite works at Camp Ithier comprising mainly road and drain works would be completed in January 2026 while offsite drain works at Quatre Coco are expected to be completed in December 2026. I would like to add here, with regard to this date of December 2026, that the NSLD had asked that geotechnical investigations be carried out at Quatre Cocos by Water Research Co Ltd in July 2022 in order to determine its suitability for construction prior to acquisition of the plot of land. Core holes, undertaken at depths of 7 metres to 15 metres, did not indicate the presence of cavities. The project management consultant, a company called Vyyaass Consulting Engineer Ltd confirmed the suitability of the site for the construction of housing units through a letter dated 18 November 2022. I just wanted to explain this is how they worked. However, the project is encountering serious delays due to the presence of extensive cavities that certain people thought did not exist! Even though there were geotechnical reports and the reports said there were no cavities, cavities exist bel et bien! So, depending on the outcome of the investigations now and the redesigning of the masterplan – a redesign may be required –, construction of all housing units and associated onsite infrastructure, including offsite drainage works, which are essential to render the site flood resilient, I expect it to be completed, as I said, on 31 December 2026.
46 So, Madam Speaker, I hope that the hon. Member does realise that we are here to correct the mess of the previous government. And literally, when we say they put us in a hole, cavities are there! Thank you.
Monsieur Beechook, ça va? Maybe we can do one more question before lunch. Hon. Third Member for Port Louis North, hon. Caserne! VALLÉE DES PRÊTRES – MORCELLEMENT RAMLAGUN – FLOOD MITIGATION MEASURES