Reply: The Land Drainage Master Plan promotes a national strategic framework for the integrated management of flood risk and stormwater drainage across Mauritius. It adopts a catchment-based approach, recognising that effective flood risk management requires coordinated interventions from the upper watershed to the coastal discharge points while balancing environmental, social and economic considerations. The Land Drainage Master Plan is intended to be a living document and the Land Drainage Authority continuously reviews and updates its strategies to ensure that flood risk management remains aligned with emerging scientific knowledge, climate change projections, evolving national development priorities and international best practices by working closely with several stakeholders such as the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, the Geotechnical Engineering Unit, the National Development Unit, the Road Development Authority, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre, academia and other institutions, depending on the nature of the project. In this regard, Government is giving due consideration to further strengthening the implementation of the Master Plan through enhanced collaboration with relevant institutions and technical experts. Government is also collaborating with the United States Government under the Defence Operational Resilience International Cooperation (DORIC) Programme, through which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is undertaking a Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study for Mauritius. The findings of this study will provide additional scientific and technical recommendations to further strengthen the country's flood resilience. As part of the implementation of the Master Plan, the Land Drainage Authority is currently looking into the possibility of pursuing several non-structural measures, including – (a) the establishment of a National Flood Early Warning System incorporating rainfall gauges, water-level sensors, telemetry systems and real-time flood forecasting; (b) the strengthening of flood risk mapping, hydrological and hydraulic modelling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS); (c) the preparation of flood zoning and improved land-use planning guidelines; (d) the promotion of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems and other climate-resilient drainage approaches, and (e) enhanced public awareness, institutional capacity building and technical research. The approaches referred to in the question, such as retention and detention ponds, bioswales and other nature-based stormwater management systems, afforestation and constructed wetlands amongst others, are internationally recognised as components of integrated water resources management and flood risk management. Government recognises the importance of complementing conventional drainage infrastructure with nature-based and sustainable water management solutions. However, their incorporation into drainage strategies will be pursued where they are technically feasible, environmentally and economically viable after conducting relevant studies, designs and periodic updates to the Land Drainage Master Plan. Government has already implemented the following flood mitigation projects by incorporating retention basins as part of its integrated drainage strategy – (a) the implementation of flood mitigation works at Cottage, comprising earth swales and retention ponds; (b) the construction of a retention pond at Plaine Magnien, measuring approximately 150 metres by 50 metres by 3.5 metres, providing a storage capacity of approximately 26,250 cubic metres; (c) the construction of a retention pond at Mare Tabac, measuring approximately 100 metres by 50 metres by 3.5 metres, with a storage capacity of approximately 17,500 cubic metres; (d) the construction of a retention basin at Kanpur, Nouvelle France, measuring approximately 100 metres by 85 metres by 4 metres, providing a storage capacity of approximately 34,000 cubic metres, and (e) the construction of an attenuation pond at Dakri. The Agence Française de Développement (AFD), under the ‘AdaptAction Programme’, shall as from July 2026 implement a 12-month project aimed at reinforcing the capacity of Mauritius to prevent and manage flooding. The project is built on the recommendations of the LDMP and is intended to further examine, develop and promote sponge-city concepts and nature-based solutions for flood management and climate resilience. It is worthy to note that retention ponds and detention ponds are an integral part in the design of all new drain projects. Government, therefore, remains committed to strengthening inter-agency collaboration to ensure that future updates of the Land Drainage Master Plan continue to integrate scientific evidence, innovative technologies, climate resilience principles and sustainable drainage solutions, while fulfilling the statutory mandate of the Land Drainage Authority and supporting the long-term resilience and sustainable development of Mauritius. 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