Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Land Drainage Authority that for Constituency No. 18, Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes, some 13 drain projects have been earmarked for implementation, out of which one, project namely, drain works at Saint Jean has been practically completed with a few minor snags currently ongoing in the defect liability period till 11 June 2026. Five other projects out of the 13 would also be implemented by the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes, namely – (a) flood mitigating measures at Gaya Lane, Robert Edward Hart Avenue; (b) flood mitigating measures at Sobha Lane, Olivier Avenue; (c) drain works in front of Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo Government School at Autruche Avenue; (d) upgrading of drain along Nellan Lane up to Canal Nellan, supply fixing of metal gratings, and (e) flood mitigating measures at 75, Avenue Dansant, Quatre Bornes entrusted by the Land Drainage Authority on 06 February 2026 to the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes for implementation. Approval for design for the mentioned projects has been sought by the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes from the Land Drainage Authority on 17 April 2026. The project upgrading of Canal Nellan and removal of obstruction over a length of approximately 2 km as from Lal Bahadur Shastri Street is ready for implementation by the Municipal Council of Quatre Bornes and is awaiting financial clearance. Madam Speaker, concerning the National Development Unit, there are four complex drain projects which are all located in the densely populated regions of Constituency No. 18 and are still at preparatory stage, namely – (a) flood mitigation measures in the region of La Louise, La Source and Candos, Quatre Bornes; (b) flood mitigation measures in the region of Quatre Bornes, Belle Rose, Sodnac, Berthaud; (c) construction of drain at Duperre Avenue and Brown Avenue, Old Quatre Bornes, and (d) construction of drain at Trianon Avenue after Shoprite roundabout, road to Kovil Trianon. The Drains Infrastructure Construction Limited has also been entrusted with the project construction of cutoff drain at Berthaud Avenue, Quatre Bornes, which is currently at land acquisition and wayleave stage. I am also informed that bids for drain network at Résidence Beau-Sejour is ready for implementation by the National Development Unit and bids will be launched by 15 July 2026 subject to financial clearance. Madam Speaker, I wish to point out that the projects being implemented by the National Development Unit and the Drain Infrastructure Construction Limited are very complex to implement owing to the extensive network of buried services whereby appropriate measures would need to be undertaken to prevent any disruption in the existing services and to avoid inconvenience to the inhabitants as the projects will take quite a few years to be fully implemented. Moreover, the holistic approach being adopted for implementation of drain project in Constituency No. 18 will entail considerable cost amounting to over Rs6 billion. Due to financial constraints, it will be difficult to complete these projects in the near future. Alternately, I called for focused meetings with the National Development Unit, Drain Infrastructure Construction Limited, the Land Drainage Authority and the Road Development Authority to explore different and more cost-effective short-term solutions to mitigate flooding. Two meetings have already been held on 30 April and 11 May, respectively, at the seat of my Ministry. Further to discussions held during these meetings, the following measures to alleviate flooding have been identified for the project at La Louise, namely – (1) geotechnical and investigative assessments owing to the site conditions; (2) the construction of absorption drains along Lal Bahadur Shastri Street and Boundary Street; (3) the construction of a retention pond to cater for the overflow of water from the absorption drains; (4) the conversion of the existing Road Development Authority drains into upsized absorption drains from La Paix Street to the junction at La Louise along Candos- Vacoas Road, and (5) the construction of drains along SSR Road and in the vicinity of Winners. Let me reassure the House that the implementation of these projects will be effected in phases upon approval of the design by the Land Drainage Authority and subject to availability of funds, which I gather will be far less costly than adopting a holistic approach. My Ministry is focused on implementing projects responsibly with efficient use of funds without forgetting the prevailing fiscal situation of the country.

Yes.

Je vous remercie, Madame la présidente. Je remercie également le ministre pour sa réponse détaillée. Nous remercions le ministre, le Dr. Boolell, le Deputy Speaker et moi pour sa réponse détaillée. Le ministre peut-il informer la Chambre les raisons pour lesquelles les travaux de construction de drains dans les régions de Candos et de La Louise accusent des retards depuis plus de dix ans malgré les inondations répétées qui contraignent les habitants et les commerçants à vivre dans l'angoisse à chaque grosse pluie ? Merci.

Madam Speaker, as I explained, if we take a holistic approach for the construction of drains in the region of Quatre Bornes and La Louise, it will cost 6 billion. I presume that the previous government was working on a holistic one which can never be implemented. That's why, now, we are going on phase-wise short-term measures, having an absorption drain, we shall try to have a cut off drain before the Candos Hospital. We will try to see how it works, then we will go downstream, we will construct the two sides of the drain and the Road Development Authority will upgrade it, then we will see how it works and then we will go to La Louise instead of having holistic and never implement the project. So, we are going phase-wise, short-term measures so as to solve the problem.

Yes.

Je vous remercie, Madame la présidente. Le ministre peut-il informer la Chambre si les travaux – il a mentionné dans sa réponse qu'il y aura des travaux à Lal Bahadur – prévus à Lal Bahadur permettront de résoudre de manière significative les problèmes récurrents de drainage et d'inondation affectant non seulement les régions de Candos et de La Louise mais également Palma, Bassin, Boundary Road, ainsi qu'une partie de Sodnac à proximité du supermarché de Winners ? Je vous remercie, Madame la présidente.

Short!

Madam Speaker, I cannot give guarantee that we will solve the problem entirely. According to consultants, if we do the first measure, it can solve the problem up to 35-40%. At least we are solving 35 to 40% of the problem, and then we see how we move forward instead of doing nothing.

Pas à pas ! Thank you very much everyone. I am raising until 2.30 p.m. At 1.06 p.m., the Sitting was suspended. On resuming at 2.31 p.m., with the Deputy Speaker on the Chair.

The hon. Third Member for Beau Bassin and Petite Rivière. TRUST FUND FOR EXCELLENCE IN SPORTS – MR N.V, CHAIRPERSON – REVOCATION – INQUIRY