[Mount Ory - Landslide] [Hollyrood & Quinze Cantons - Houses - Flooding]

Debate No. 06 of 10.04.07
Mount Ory - Landslide

(No. B/103) Mr S. Dayal (Second Member for Quartier Militaire and Moka) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether he is aware that there is a problem of landslide at Mount Ory, near Pont Souillac, and, if so, will he state if it is proposed to construct a retaining wall thereat.

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry is fully aware of the problem.

However, due to unavailability of funds, the project could not be implemented. Once funds are identified, the project would be implemented.

Mr Dayal: Mr Speaker, Sir, can I ask the hon. Minister whether he is aware of the imminent danger that the situation is creating up to the point that part of the footpath and the road are already severely damaged and will it take it as a matter of urgency to remedy the situation as the dwelling of some of the inhabitants are under threat?

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, we are fully conscious of the problem. I’ll convey this to the substantive Minister and I do hope that in the forthcoming budget provisions will be made for that.

Keywords: landslide, soil erosion, problem

Debate No. 08 of 24.04.2007
Hollyrood & Quinze Cantons - Houses - Flooding


(No. B/213) Dr. R. Hawoldar (Second Member for La Caverne and phoenix) asked the Minister of Environment and National Development Unit whether, following the site visits he effected at Hollyrood and Quinze Cantons, two days after the flooding of houses thereat in February 2007, he will state the measures, if any, that have been taken.

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, following the site visit on 28 February 2007 at Hollyrood and Quinze Cantons in the company of the hon. Member and other Members of the constituency, measures were immediately taken to resort to services of a contractor for the area for remedial action to attend to the problem of water accumulation.

According to the Municipality of Vacoas-Phoenix the problems of flooding in the regions of Quinze Cantons and Hollyrood are due to the following –

(i) the topography of the land is such that several houses have been constructed below road surface level and water consequently accumulates within the premises of inhabitants;

(ii) the main drain along La Marie Road gets clogged and the surface water run off could not be canalised, giving rise to flooding. It is necessary to point out that the water capacity of the drain is inadequate;

(iii) the overflowing of Perrier Bridge situated in the region of Glen Park contributes to flooding at Quinze Cantons and Hollyrood. The Road Development Authority has been approached to look into the possibility for the upgrading of the bridge;

(iv) a number of natural caves of the region of Quinze Cantons have been apparently obstructed by walls and other forms of construction by the inhabitants with the result that the caves do not serve as outlets for excess water run off.

In view of the complexity of the problem, arrangements will be made for the new drain consultant which would be appointed by the end of July 2007 to look in-depth into the problem of flooding for the regions of Quinze Cantons and Hollyrood.

Dr. Hawoldar: Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the hon. Minister for the answer which he has been given. But is he aware that since January 2006, at least, seven letters have been sent to the Ministry, requesting that the drains in the region above Quinze Cantons, that is, from La Croisée Glen Park, be cleared and this has not been done in spite of, at least, seven reminders which had been sent to the RDA to this purpose?

And, secondly, is he aware that some of the experts – this is the problem when we have too many experts, Mr Speaker, Sir – have visited the Pont Perrier and they found out that the basic problem is at Pont Perrier where a bridge has been made which is not wide enough and three holes have been made under this bridge which are getting clogged all the time, and it is the surplus of water which is causing the problem at Hollyrood and Quinze Cantons. Could he tell us whether he has received this report from the municipality and from the experts from his Ministry who visited the site?

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as Perrier Bridge is concerned, there were two sites visits and a decision has already been taken to upgrade it and, if I am not mistaken, works are going to start in the weeks to come. The RDA has undertaken that responsibility. I agree to what the hon. Member has stated. We have, in fact, received seven letters, but it is not a child’s play. I had been to Quinze Cantons along with the Members of Parliament. I am not an expert myself, but I can assure the House that it is a very complex issue and we cannot throw money uselessly. It is going to cost us a huge sum of money and, if I am not mistaken, it must be above Rs25 to Rs30 m. In order to implement such a project, we need consultants and that is the reason why I have mentioned that, by the end of July, we are going to have the drain consultants, and I’ll refer the matter to them.

The hon. Member must be satisfied with the amount of work that my Ministry has done following the flood and the cyclone.

Dr. Hawoldar: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I remind the hon. Minister that in November 2005 he had visited Hollyrood? After his visit, he said the following –

“Drain and footpath at Hollyrood will be funded by NDU. Design and implementation are to be carried out by RDA and TMRSU will have to give its views and clearance. NDU has to request the Ministry of Education to provide funds for projects near school.”

Is he aware that this promise was made in November 2005 and we are now in April 2007 and absolutely nothing has been done in this area?

Mr Bachoo: Mr Speaker, Sir, in the beginning, the decision was taken to start the work in the vicinity of the school, but when the consultants examined it, they found that it would be a useless exercise. That is the reason why we have decided to look at the whole region. Again, as I have mentioned, we cannot throw money uselessly. The amount to be utilized will be above Rs30 m.

We have decided that, with the support of RDA, we have to do a good work.

(Interruptions)

It is a sort of absorption pit that we are going to dig. The hon. Member has to bear with me, because this is not an ordinary work that is going to be done.

Mr Soodhun: Mr Speaker, Sir, I totally support the hon. Minister. As it has been mentioned, it is a very complex issue.

(Interruptions)

Mr Speaker: Order! Order, please!

Mr Soodhun: It is not a matter that we can find a solution in a week’s time. The problem is because it is the constituency of the Leader of the Opposition and myself, and also of hon. Mrs Bappoo.

Mr Speaker: What is the question?

Mr Soodhun: There is a short-term and a long-term solution.

(Interruptions)
Even with the normal raining situation, there is a problem of flooding everywhere. What I am suggesting is that the hon. Minister can have a short-term and a long-term solution.

Mr Bachoo: Insofar as the short-term solution is concerned, we had already revised. The hon. Members who are with me, knew that we have opened up the gates….

(Interruptions)

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Bachoo: The hon. Member had been in Parliament since 1987 and he has been representing the Constituency. It is already 25 years and nothing has been done, because it is a very complex issue.

(Interruptions)

Mr Speaker: Order! Order! Order, please!

Mr Bachoo: The fact that I have already had two site visits gives an idea that we are really concerned with the problem. That is the reason why I say to let the consultant work on that. I’ll then come with a solution.

At 1.00 p.m. the sitting was suspended.

Keywords: : heavy rainfall, flooding, water accumulation, drain, surface water run off, raining situation, residential areas, remedial measures