Thank you, very, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, with your permission, I shall reply to the question put by hon. First Member for La Caverne and Phoenix. An island-wide survey was carried out in 2009 and around 237 sites were identified and listed as wetlands. Now, the list was reviewed in 2018, using remote sensing technology where some 1,000 areas were listed as potentially being wetlands. Presently, a consultancy is on-going at the level of the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change in collaboration with the National Parks and Conservation Service to establish the listed sites. In addition, following the enactment of the Environment Act 2024, coastal fresh water marshlands and upland marshlands which are wetlands, were identified as Environmentally Sensitive Areas, which require an Environmental Impact Assessment licence prior to any development thereat. Madam Speaker, the National Parks and Conservation Service is responsible for the implementation of the Ramsar Convention which includes the management, preservation and protection of wetlands across Mauritius and the preservation of the rich biodiversity located thereat. The National Parks and Conservation Service has also been entrusted with the responsibility, as the enforcement agency, following the enactment of the Environment Act of 2024. Also, a National Ramsar Committee was set up in January 2004 at the level of the Ministry to assist in the implementation of a Ramsar Convention.

70 The National Ramsar Committee is also responsible for the monitoring and protection of wetlands through conditions attached to Building and Land Use Permits, wherever a wetland is present or is in the vicinity of any development. In fact, since 2006, no development on wetlands under 30 metre buffer zone is allowed. Madam Speaker, concerning part (b) of the enactment of the Environment Act 2024, I am informed that a total of 36 cases pertaining to encroachment, illegal construction and backfilling done on wetlands have been reported to the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries. And, 54 such cases have been recorded at the level of the National Parks and Conservation Service over the last five years. Furthermore, I am informed that three stop orders have been issued by the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change for stopping such illegal activities and ordering the contraveners to restore the wetland area to its original site. Madam Speaker, wetlands with a rich biodiversity, form part of the natural capital and each reported case of encroachment, illegal construction and backfilling, is one too many. To further reinforce the protection of wetland, government agreed, in May this year, to the drafting of a Wetland Bill and Wetlands Regulations which will be dedicated for the protection, management, restoration and enforcement measure for the preservation of all wetlands across the Republic of Mauritius. Through the enactment of this legislation, a new impetus will be given; the long-term sustainability of wetlands.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Are you alright? Yes. The hon. Second Member for Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes. MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE ARBITRATION COMMITTEE – CASES – 2019-2024