Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to thank the hon. Member to give me the opportunity to shed light on the status of the drain project at La Louise. The region of La Louise has often been subject to flooding in the past years and has been declared as a high-risk flood prone area by the Land Drainage Authority. With a view to addressing the flooding issues holistically in the region of La Louise and mitigating the incidence of flooding thereat, I am informed by the NDU that a contract for consultancy services for the design, supervision and management for flood mitigation measures in the region of La Louise, La Source and Candos, Quatre Bornes was awarded to Vyas Consulting Engineers Ltd. on 15 November 2023. With regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed that the detailed design report has not yet been finalised due to the complexity of the project and the site conditions. In fact, the region of La Louise is densely populated with both residential and commercial buildings and an extensive network of underground services such as the sewer lines, the CWA pipes and the MT lines. These services would need to be relocated during the implementation. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed that the Consultant has highlighted the absence of a nearby outlet at La Louise, which would result in the construction of a drain network over a longer stretch with a discharge point at River Rempart in order to mitigate the flooding problem thereat. Moreover, Vyas Consulting Engineers Ltd. has also conveyed that there is no room for upgrading works on the existing watercourse, namely Canal Nelan which is under capacity and is obstructed with construction of around 200 houses. Canal Nelan passes through private premises and there is no visibility on its structure. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am further informed that the Consultant is working on a masterplan for the whole region which, amongst others, would require the construction of 10 kms of drain. The whole project is expected to cost some Rs5.6 billion. However, the

51 Consultant has proposed the implementation of the critical part along La Louise comprising the construction of 2 kms of drains along Lal Bahadur Shastri Street, Candos Road, Nehru Road and Phoenix-Beaux Songes Road up to the outlet at River Rempart which would also include the construction of drain of the 11m deep at some locations over a length of 300 m. This is expected to cost some Rs1.3 billion. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, due to the high risk and cost of the project, it is warranted that a geotechnical investigation be carried out with exploratory works to finalise the detailed design report with a view to – (i) confirming the feasibility of the project; (ii) validating the methodology for excavation, and (iii) identifying the buried services and the soil strata. I am informed that the draft bidding document for the geotechnical investigation and exploratory works is being prepared and the report is expected by the end of August 2025. Thereafter, the detailed design report is expected to be finalised by mid-October 2025. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (b) of the question, I am not in a position to confirm the dates for the implementation of the project at this point in time as we shall await the finalisation of the detailed design report in the first instance. However, I wish to inform the hon. Member that I have requested the NDU to closely monitor the situation and to expedite the matter for an early implementation.

Je vous remercie, M. le président. Ce problème d’inondation perdure depuis plus de 10 ans dans la région de La Louise. Could the Minister inform the House what interim measures, if any, have been put in place to mitigate flooding in the area of La Louise? Thank you.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, unfortunately, so far, no short-term mitigating measures have been implemented. However, regarding the situation and the complexity of the work and the cost implication, we can propose some short-term temporary measures depending on the geotechnical investigation that will be carried out. The short-term temporary measures will include the construction of an absorption drain and gravity drain up to a quarry in La Source. There is a quarry in La Source. We can consider the passivity of a short-term absorption drain and gravity drain. We must understand that the temporary and short-term measures will not solve the problem. It will solve it around 50%. Water accumulation flood will still occur, but to a lower

52 level. If we implement these short-term measures, it will cost Rs500 m. as temporary measures.

Another one! Last one, please!

I am interested in it as well!

M. le président, à chaque forte pluie, les habitants de La Louise, les commerçants, les taximen, les collégiens vivent dans une grande angoisse. Face à cette détresse grandissante, est-ce que le ministre accepterait-il de se rendre sur place afin de constater l’ampleur du problème aux côtés des habitants, s’il vous plaît ? Merci.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, obviously, I have no objection. I will be more than glad to have a site visit together with the members of the Constituency…

Do not forget me as well!

…including the Deputy Speaker! I will have no objection to have a visit. But we must understand, as I said it, the cost of the whole project is high, it is Rs5.6 billion. When we are talking about the outlet, unfortunately, there is no outlet. The outlet will be at Beaux Songes. This is what we call River Rempart. So, the drain will have to start from La Louise to go over a stretch of nearly 10kms, as I said. So, I will be happy to come for a site visit and we can explain to the people there.

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