Madam Speaker, with regards to the water sector, the Government of Mauritius has signed the following agreements with the Agence Française de Développement since 2019 to date – (i) First, a Technical Assistance of Euro 600,000, signed on 05 September 2019, to support the water sector in Mauritius and Rodrigues. Under this assistance, the Rodrigues Water Resources Strategy and priority action plan were developed, amongst others. (ii) Second, a Technical Assistance of Euro 1.3 million, signed on 26 February 2024, for a study in Rodrigues, on the depth and volume of freshwater aquifers for the development of new boreholes. (iii) Third, a Technical Assistance of Euro 800,000, also signed on 26 February 2024, out of which, Euro 462,640 is for the development of a strategy for rainwater management and flood risk prevention on the island of Rodrigues and the remaining to develop a strategy to improve water absorption capacity of soil in Mauritius. Madam Speaker, on 01 December 2023, the Government of Mauritius also signed a Sector Budget Support Loan Agreement with AFD for reform in the water sector in Mauritius and Rodrigues. The quantum of the loan is Euro 200 million. This Sector Budget Support Loan is coupled with a grant of Euro 2 million. This grant is being used to finance the elaboration of water policy for Mauritius,

33 improving water quality in Rodrigues and a Technical Adviser providing support to the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities and the Rodrigues Public Utility Corporation. With respect to the projects earmarked under this loan assistance, I would like to highlight that the loan from AFD is a Sector Budget Support Loan. The financing from a Budget Support Loan is not earmarked for specific projects. Accordingly, the proceeds of the loan are directly credited to the Consolidated Fund and contribute to the financing of the various projects and programmes in the water sector for both Mauritius and Rodrigues. As per the Sector Budget Support Loan agreement, disbursements are linked to Key Performance Indicators in the water sector, again, for both Mauritius and Rodrigues. So far, Euro 105 million has been disbursed under the loan agreement. Madam Speaker, over and above the financing from AFD, there are several projects for the water sector that are being implemented for both Mauritius and Rodrigues. The main ones are as follows – For Mauritius, Rs3.1 billion which includes – (i) Rs1.4 billion for the construction of the Rivière des Anguilles Dam; (ii) Rs1.2 billion for pipe replacement projects; (iii) Rs100 million for the rehabilitation of La Ferme Dam; (iv) Rs50 million for the upgrading of Piton du Milieu Water Treatment Plant; (v) Rs73 million for the construction and upgrading of pumping stations at Poudre d’Or and Plaine Lauzun; (vi) Rs100 million for containerised filtration plants, drilling of boreholes and maintenance of feeder canals, and (vii) Rs50 million for the replacement of Bulk Water Meters. For Rodrigues – (i) Rs216.3 million has been provided in the Budget of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly for FY 2025-2026. These funds are mainly to meet the operating cost of

34 the Commission responsible for water, Rodrigues Public Utilities Corporation (RPUC), and the Rainwater Harvesting Scheme. (ii) Rs540 million for two desalination plants, distribution networks and metering financed from MIC. (iii) USD 10 million, which amounts to about Rs457 million, a grant from World Bank and European Union, to support Rodrigues’ sustainable development with a particular focus on water and food security. Madam Speaker, let me reassure the House that we are not leaving Rodrigues behind. Not at all! Over Rs1 billion has been earmarked for the water sector for the next two financial years in Rodrigues.

Thank you very much, hon. Prime Minister. Time is now up! I will give a list of all the PQs that have been withdrawn: B/721, B/725, B/726, B/727, and B/729. Thank you. Now, I am calling PQs addressed to Ministers. The hon. Third Member for Port Louis North and Montagne Longue, Mr Caserne! MFRS HEAD OFFICE & FIRE STATIONS – PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION/RELOCATION