Debate No. 08 of 24.04.2007
Reunion Island - Volcanic Eruptions


(No. B/241) Dr. R. Mungur (Second Member for Flacq and Bon Accueil) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether, following the recent volcanic eruptions in Reunion Island, he will state if any study has been initiated to estimate the production of acid rain and the harmful effects caused as a result thereof.

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, such a study is not warranted on the basis of information made available from the Agricultural Research Extension Unit, Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute and the Meteorological Services, the National Environment Laboratory and the Central Water Authority.

In fact, acid rain has very rarely been experienced in Mauritius and no visible symptoms of damage suggestive of exposure to acid rain was recorded on sugar cane and vegetable plantations during that period. Moreover, recent monitoring of our surface water bodies including reservoirs has revealed that there is no significant change in the PH and therefore no indication of the presence of acid rain. Furthermore, a regular monitoring of the emission levels of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, the excess emission of which are likely causes of acid rain formation is undertaken by the National Environment Laboratory. So far, the emission levels have been low and very unlikely to cause acid rain formation.

Mr Bérenger: Mr Speaker, Sir, the volcano in Reunion Island is one of the most active in the world and, only last week, a volcanic eruption in Japan caused a tsunami. Can I ask the hon. Minister whether his Ministry or anybody else has looked into the possibility of volcanic activity in Reunion Island causing a tsunami in Mauritius?

Mr Bachoo: I am sorry, Mr Speaker, Sir, we don’t have that much of information in my Ministry, but I can assure the hon. Member that I’ll try to consult the National Environment Laboratory and other environmental experts and try to find out what impact the volcanic action can have in Mauritius.

Mr Bérenger: May I ask the hon. Minister, being given that one expert in volcanic matters has argued that the activity in Reunion Island might cause a small island to emerge between Mauritius and Reunion Island? May I ask the hon. Minister whether he has liaised with the State Law Office to see what would be the legal position in such a case?

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have read that in the papers. I would like to take that into account.

Keywords: volcanic eruptions, acid rain, emissions, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, tsunami

Debate No. 08 of 24.04.2007
Global Warming - Awareness Campaign


(No. B/224) Mr Y. Varma (First Member for Mahebourg & Plaine Magnien) asked the Minister of Environment & National Development Unit whether, in regard to global warming, he will state the steps, if any, that have been taken to sensitise the general public on the effects thereof.

Mr Bachoo: Sir, global warming and climate change is a critical concern for us in view of its impacts on Small Island States such as Mauritius. Global warming is caused by emissions of greehouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane by the burning of fossil fuel and reduced capacity to absorb carbon dioxide. This can have serious impacts that can trigger catastrophic events such as sea level rise, food and water shortages, extreme weather conditions and epidemics. It is therefore vital that the public at large be informed of the causes, effects and actions that can be taken as response measures under the various related sectors. It is to be noted, Mr Speaker, Sir, that public sensitization in the context of global warming and climate change is a cross cutting element which is being implemented concurrently and jointly by a number of national actors. As part of the recommendations made in the Climate Change Action Plan approved by Government in 1998, my Ministry is, in addition to encouraging initiatives towards energy efficiency and coastal zone management, putting much emphasis on environmental education, sensitisation and awareness raising campaigns.

We are fully involved in an ongoing awareness campaign with the MBC radio and television. The public at large is targeted so that they adopt sustainable lifestyle that will help towards energy efficiency and less fuel consumption and better use of natural resources. They are informed that a better management of the resources will ensure its sustainability, especially as the impacts of global warming will continue to be felt for a long period even if emission of greehouse gases have been completely stopped. Our sensitisation programme is also carried out in the school community where the students are made to realise the seriousness of this problem and how action initiated by them in any of the sectors mentioned above can help to make a change. In this respect, we have already produced and distributed fact sheets on climate change and other environmental issues in schools.

Furthermore, trees having the potential of storing carbon and cleaning the atmosphere provide a means by which people can contribute towards curbing down carbon dioxide emissions. In this context, my Ministry is encouraging tree planting at all levels and has launched a “Plant a Million Tree” campaign since last year.

Global warming being even more critical in respect of low lying and Small Island Developing States, United Nations Environment Programme has decreed World Environment Day 2007, as the year to mark climate change. In this context, my Ministry is organising a number of activities to celebrate this event, including film shows and panel presentations for secondary school students on global warming and climate change and their associated themes and a youth rally.

We hope that the understanding of global warming issues will encourage actions aiming at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to its consequences.

With the assistance of UNEP and UNDP a series of workshops for all stakeholders will be organised during the months of May and June on climate change and how to tap carbon credits from the clean development mechanism.

Finally, Mr Speaker, Sir, climate change has no barriers, neither geographical nor political, it is a matter of concern for every single inhabitant of this planet. In this respect, any suggestion from Members of the House will be welcomed.

Mr Varma: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the hon. Minister satisfied that the public sensitization programme has reached the public at large in Mauritius?

Mr Bachoo: Sir, I am personally not satisfied and that is the reason why I am making an appeal to all Members of Parliament to come forward and if they have any suggestions to make, these will be most welcomed.

Miss Deerpalsing: Sir, may I ask the hon. Minister whether he would consider viewing the Al Gore’s documentary, an Inconvenient Truth, in schools and whether that would help in sensitising the public?

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, as it is a commercial film, we have already taken the decision and to mark the World Environment Day, we are also requesting the MBC/TV to produce that programme.

Dr. Mungur: Mr Speaker, Sir, the annual per capita emission of carbon dioxide for the United States is around 21.7 tonne, that of China is around 4 tonne and that of India is around 1.2 tonne. Can the hon. Minister inform us what is the annual per capita emission of carbon dioxide in Mauritius?

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would request the hon. Member to check up the figures over again, because they have gone up in the recent years. But, as far as Mauritius is concerned, we do not have any yardstick to measure.

Dr. Mungur: Sir, since the hon. Minister is telling us that he does not have figures, can he give an indication when this will be done?

Mr Bachoo: Sir, we are very much below the target which has been set up by the Kyoto protocol.

Mr Varma: Sir, will the hon. Minister inform the House whether a study has been carried out as to the effect of global warming on the rise of the sea level in Mauritius?

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, we do not have any specific study as such, but one thing I can inform the House is that, if steps are not taken, there have been reports of inter-governmental panel on climate change, which reveal that even Mauritius will become one of the victims and towards the end of this century, if things remain the same, at least, 12 kilometres of road will be submerged on the side of Flic-en-Flac and those who are having pied dans l’eau, will have to be very careful about it. At the same time, all of our coastal regions also will be badly affected in 20-25 years’ time because of the sea level rise and even now, we are experiencing the danger when we find the soil erosion everywhere. That’s why I have made an appeal to my colleague, the Minister of Finance, that we have to come forward to see what can be done in order to prevent further erosion.

Miss Deerpalsing: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the hon. Minister aware that Al Gore has set up a foundation with funds in it where they are training people across the world to sensitise various people across the world about this global warming issue? May I ask whether the hon. Minister could contact the Al Gore foundation for funds to train people here?

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, we have contacted many international organisations and, as far as Al Gore funds are concerned, I do not think we have done something. But as far as adaptation fund and all others are concerned, we are going to tap the resources, but, unfortunately, it is not so easy to obtain funds from those institutions for the time being.

Mr Varma: Mr Speaker, Sir, the hon. Minister just made mention of a report of the inter-governmental group on climate evolution and a meeting was recently held in Johannesburg. Can the hon. Minister inform the House whether there was any representative of Government at that meeting?

Mr Bachoo: A high officer of my Ministry participated in that meeting.

Mr Varma: Mr Speaker, Sir, a report concerning climatic change has been tabled at that meeting. Is the hon. Minister prepared to lay a copy of the report on the Table of the National Assembly.

Mr Bachoo: I’ll do it, Sir.

Keywords: Global warming, climate change, Small Island Developing States, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide, methane, burning of fossil fuel, sea level rise, extreme weather conditions, awareness campaign, sensitization, environmental education, energy efficiency, clean development mechanism, Kyoto protocol, coastal zone management, soil erosion

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Debate No. 09 of 08.05.07
Clean Air Bill and clean Water Bill - Introduction


(No. B/329) Miss K. R. Deerpalsing (Third Member for Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether he will state if Government proposes to introduce into the House a Clean Air Bill and a Clean Water Bill.

Reply: The Environment Protection Act 2002 already makes provision for the issue of standards to protect the quality of air.

The Environment Protection (Standards for Air) Regulations were promulgated in 1998 and provide for ambient air standards based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and set limits for major air pollutants emanating from industrial activities.

I would also like to inform the House that the Environment Protection (Standards for Air) Regulations 1998 are being reviewed taking into consideration new activities such as municipal waste incinerators, which may have an impact on air quality. The new proposed standards will be based upon the latest development in this field and aligned with WHO standards, World Bank Guidelines and European Directives, among others. New parameters of particular concerns such as dioxins and furans are also covered. The new proposed Environment Protection (Standards for Air) Regulations have already been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Office for vetting purposes.

Furthermore the Road Traffic (Control of Vehicle Emissions) Regulations promulgated in 2002 and enforced by the National Transport Authority provide for emission limits for smoke, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons levels amongst others.

A Clean Air Bill is, therefore, not envisaged at this stage.

A Clean Water Bill basically pertains to the protection of surface water quality, including protection from pollutant discharges and surface run-off. These are presently covered under different primary legislation, namely the Rivers and Canals Act, the Ground Water Act, the Central Water Authority Act, the Public Health Act and the Environment Protection Act. Furthermore, a set of standards, guidelines and regulations to protect the quality of our water resources from industrial and other sources of pollution have been promulgated under the Environment Protection Act over the past years. These include –

The Environment Protection (Effluent limitations for the sugar industry) Regulations 1997

The Environment Protection (Standards for effluent discharge) Regulations 2003

The Environment Protection (Standards of effluent for use in irrigation) Regulations 2003

The Environment Protection (Standards for effluent discharge into the ocean) Regulations 2003, and

The Environment Protection (Effluent Discharge Permit) Regulations 2003

The Ministry of Public Utilities is the enforcing agency responsible for monitoring and enforcement of the effluent discharge standards.

I have been informed that the Ministry of Public Utilities intends to encompass all water related issues under a single legislation, the new Water Bill. This will be required to operationalise water services under the provisions of the Utility Regulatory Authority Act, which has yet to be proclaimed.

Keywords: Clean air bill, clean water bill, air quality, Environment Protection Act 2002, air quality, ambient air standards, air pollutants, guidelines, standards, regulations, pollution, industrial activities, dioxins, furans, vehicle emissions, enforcement, enforcing agency, smoke, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, pollutant discharge, surface run-off, water quality, water resources, sources of pollution,

Debate No. 06 of 10.04.07

Statements by Ministers
La Tour Koenig/Residence Coquillage - CMT - Pollution


The Minister of Environment and National Development Unit (Mr A. Bachoo): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am going to make a brief statement on issues raised by hon. J. C. Barbier regarding pollution caused by La Compagnie Mauricienne de Textile at La Tour Koenig.

I wish to inform the hon. Member and the House that regular monitoring has been carried out by my Ministry as stated in my reply to PQ No. B/535 on 22 November, 2005 and the situation was under control until the passage of cyclone Gamede when the Force Vives complained about black smoke and overflow of waste water including rainwater on the public road. Following site visits on the 20 and 27 February and a meeting held on 15 March 2007 with the Force Vives of the locality and Management of CMT, the immediate environmental concerns have been addressed and the situation is under control and no complaints have been received since 15 March.
As far as overflow of wastewater is concerned, CMT has liaised with –

(i) the Municipality of Port Louis to have a municipal storm water drain in Avenue des Coquillages along CMT boundaries, and

(ii) the Wastewater Management Authority to discharge its effluent into a separate sewer network to avoid overflow of the existing network servicing the residential settlement.

Mr Speaker, Sir, as regards the collection and disposal of used oil by Caltex Ltd., an inquiry is ongoing and the matter has been referred to the Ministry of Local Government which is the agency enforcing the Environment Protection (collection, storage, treatment, use and disposal of waste oil) Regulations 2006. Also, so far there is no evidence that used oil is being mixed with HFO.

Mr Speaker, Sir, it is to be noted that there are a number of hotspots, including that at La Tour Koenig where there is no buffer between the residential and the industrial zone. As industries are normally associated with a certain degree of pollution, the absence of a buffer further aggravates the situation. My Ministry will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that pollution, if any, is minimized.

Keywords: hotspots, CMT, monitoring, air quality, Environment Protection Act 2002, air quality, ambient air standards, air pollutants, guidelines, standards, regulations, pollution, industrial activities, industrial zone,residential zone, buffer, dioxins, furans, enforcement, enforcing agency, smoke, pollutant dischargse, surface run-off, water quality, sources of pollution, overflow, waste water, Wastewater Management Authority, water drain, sewer network, used oil,

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