Madam Speaker, I am informed that my Ministry appointed VYYAASS Consulting Engineer Ltd, on 21 June 2018, to undertake the design and supervision of the proposed project ‘Construction of flood protection works’ along Ruisseau du Pouce at Cité Nazareth, Tranquebar. The consultant submitted the preliminary design report on 25 July 2018 and the detailed design report on 17 October 2018. Prior to proceeding with implementation, the necessary wayleaves and clearances had to be sought from the relevant stakeholders. At that point in time, the authority of the Supreme Court also had to be sought to carry out work along rivers and canals. Exemption was provided only in the Finance Miscellaneous Provision Act 2021 in the year 2021. Madam Speaker, my Ministry thereafter launched a procurement exercise on 25 March 2022. However, the bidding exercise was non-conclusive as prices quoted were significantly above the cost estimates. A second procurement exercise was again launched on 27 June 2022, which was also non-conclusive as bids were not technically responsive. Madam Speaker, following a prioritisation exercise, the LDA, by way of a letter dated 01 June 2023, conveyed the implementation of the project to the DICL. The approved project value for the works component was Rs109 million inclusive of VAT based on cost estimates prepared in 2022. The scope of works comprised the construction of approximately 400 metres of masonry and gabion flood walls on both sides of Ruisseau du Pouce, concrete lining of the river bed of approximately 400 metres, desilting works of approximately 125 metres, and installation of handrails and other ancillary site works. Accordingly, the DICL appointed Luxconsult Ltd to prepare the bidding documents and to supervise the implementation of the works. A first bidding exercise was initiated by DICL in December 2023 but the bids received were non-responsive. Another bidding exercise was launched by DICL on 17 April 2024. However, the lowest responsive bid exceeded the approved project value by more than 65%. Madam Speaker, negotiations were subsequently held with the lowest responsive bidder on 02 September 2024, resulting in the reduction of the quoted price. Nevertheless, the negotiated bid still remained significantly above the revised engineer's estimate. The DICL therefore requested the Ministry of Finance to revise the approved project value from Rs109 million to Rs179.63 million inclusive of VAT. Pending a decision on the request for financial clearance, a bid validity period was extended two times up to 30 June 2025. However, on 23 June 2025, the Ministry of Finance advised that the bidding exercise be cancelled. Consequently, the bidding exercise was cancelled and the project was put in abeyance as no additional funds were made available for the revised project value in the previous 2025-2026 Budget. Madam Speaker, in addition, Luxconsult Ltd reported that successive heavy rainfall events, including the effects of Cyclone Belal, had significantly altered the site conditions and recommended that the original design concept of Yas Consulting Engineer Ltd dated 2018 be reviewed to incorporate enhanced flood protection measures. Given that the scope of Lux Consult Limited appointment under the DICL contract did not include design services, while on the other hand, the National Development Unit of my Ministry already had an ongoing contract with Luxconsult Ltd to carry out a holistic study along Ruisseau du Pouce, the DICL requested the NDU to instruct the consultant to finalise and extract the design for Nazareth site and submit the completed design to DICL for implementation. Madam Speaker, as the study currently being undertaken by the NDU's consultant along the entire Ruisseau du Pouce is still at the preliminary design stage, following the request from the DICL, the NDU requested its consultant on 29 May 2026 to carry out a cost- benefit analysis comparing the implementation of the proposed flood protection works against the relocation of the affected inhabitants and to identify feasible alternative solution. The consultant has submitted a report on 02 July 2026 informing inter alia that – (i) The estimated number of houses which are concerned with relocation is in the order of 125; (ii) The cost of the initial scope of works at Cité Nazareth is now estimated at around Rs319 million, and (iii) The reset preliminary design report recommends that the phasing out of work should rather start from the downstream and progressively advance upstream towards Nazareth to ensure that there is no worsening of existing flooding conditions and that the hydraulic benefits of each completed section can be effectively conveyed through the downstream drainage network. Madam Speaker, given the complexity and sensitivity of the matter including the social, legal and financial aspect involved, my Ministry is currently examining the consultant's report to identify the best course of action. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre will be requested to remain on standby at the location during periods of heavy rainfall.

Thank you. Yes, Dr. Aumeer!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Une réponse très technique, très complexe, très difficile à assimiler pour les gens qui souffrent tous les jours. J'apprécie, je dois poser une question. Puis-je demander à l’honorable ministre whether urgent consideration will be given to the construction by either DICL, Luxconsult Ltd, Yas Consulting Ltd, for the construction of a retaining wall even on a temporary basis adjacent to one to four houses where lives of people matter and could be lost in the next torrential rains that could affect our summer period, given that particularly one particular person, Mr. J.L., whose house has been completely eroded from below, before we embark and it concerns all of us, on mega projects such as M4 or the Harbour Bridge? Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I fully understand the concern of my good friend, the hon. Member, because myself, we met on a few occasions on the Nazareth. It is not so simple. At a point in time, we thought that there were only five or seven people that we have to relocate because it is quite a complex job that has to be done. But unfortunately, the consultant has provided a report. Now the relocation concerns 125 persons. We were even thinking at a point in time, to dig a what we call a pond, a basin in that region, but that also according to the Consultant, will not work. So, we now have to robably with the hon. Member, I will give you a copy of the report, probably we study together with the hon. Members of the Constituency and we can find out because it is public money. We do not want to just put a wall and tomorrow you get the flooding and it does not work at all. So, if the consultant, the engineers, the professionals have submitted a report, let us study the report and together we decide on the way forward.

Yes. Carry on.

Thank you again, Madam Speaker. One very last question for my hon. friend and my two hon. friend Ministers sitting at his back who are also MLAs of my constituency. May I ask the hon. Minister if he could use his goodwill so that we can have a meeting on site with the residents and give them a decent, easy explanation of what is being done for them? Thank you.

Un langage qu’ils comprennent.

Obviously. But I will suggest to my honorable friend that first we meet the three hon. MPs of the constituency. I will hand over a copy of the report to you. You study it, we meet in the office, then we fix a date to go to meet the people. No objection at all.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Hon. Second member for Grand Baie and Poudre d'Or. ROCHE TERRE GOVERNMENT SCHOOL – PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS – PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION