[Plastic Carry Bags – Use] [Central Flacq - car park] [IPPs - Fly Ash - Technical Advisory Committees]

Debate No. 9 of 27.07.10

PLASTIC CARRY BAGS - USE

(No. 1B/334) Ms S. Anquetil (Fourth Member for Vacoas & Floreal) asked the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development whether he will state the measures taken by his Ministry to curb the use of plastic carry bags with a view to minimising its impact on the environment.

Mr Virahsawmy: Mr Speaker, Sir, a series of measures have been taken by my Ministry over the past years to curb down the use of plastic carry bags.

First, regulations to prohibit the local manufacture and import of non-degradable plastic carry bags with wall thickness of less than 20 microns are already in force.  Whilst this measure has a positive impact as regards imports of plastic carry bags in the country, it has not yielded the expected results in terms of production and use of non-degradable plastic carry bags.

Secondly, following a proposal made by my Ministry, an excise duty of one rupee per plastic carry bag with handle produced locally or imported is applicable with effect from July 2006.  This fiscal measure is being enforced by the Mauritius Revenue Authority at the manufacturers’ premises and retail outlets.

Following this measure, feedback reports indicated a drastic reduction in the use of plastic carry bags by about 60% in most supermarkets. However, it has been observed of late that plastic manufacturers have shifted their production pattern to non-excisable plastic bags without handles, which are being distributed freely in many retail outlets, particularly in markets and fairs.

Thirdly, with a view to promoting alternatives to plastic carry bags -

(i)                  Local plastic manufacturers have been requested to produce eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags.

(ii)                Supermarkets and Shop Owners’ Associations were requested to promote and raise awareness among their customers on the use of eco-friendly alternative bags.  To date, several supermarkets and shops are proposing suitable alternatives including paper bags, green bags, and long lasting and reusable bags.

With a view to discouraging the use of plastic carry bags and encouraging the shift towards alternative re-usable bags, my Ministry has been undertaking a sustained awareness campaign using all communication channels targeting the public at large for the past years. Some 50,000 cloth bags have also been distributed to the public during this ongoing sensitisation campaign.

To give a further boost to this initiative, my Ministry will undertake an intense sensitisation campaign from September 2010 to November 2010.

Mr Speaker, Sir, to curb down the use of plastic carry bags, my Ministry is presently consulting the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development with a view to considering an increase in the excise duty and its extension to plastic carry bags with or without handles. 

Ms Anquetil: Would the hon. Minister consider promoting environmental project with the money collected in terms of tax on plastic bags?

Mr Speaker: That is not relevant to the question.  Next question, hon. François!

Mr François: Mr Speaker, Sir, along the same line, as Mauritius is moving towards the Maurice Ile Durable and sustainable development concept, will the hon. Minister inform the House whether he will consider the promotion of the use of eco-friendly substitute like tente Vacoas, which can also become a good economic activity for hooligan artisans and Mauritians also?

Mr Virahsawmy: Mr Speaker, Sir, we can look at that.

At 12.55 the sitting was suspended.

On resuming at 2.32 p.m. with the Deputy Speaker in the Chair.

Keywords: plastic carry bags

 

Debate No. 10 of 03.08.10

CENTRAL FLACQ - CAR PARK

(No. 1B/417) Mr D. Khamajeet (Second Member for Flacq & Bon Accueil) asked the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development whether he is aware that a car park is being put up on marshy land, behind the Winner’s Supermarket at Central Flacq and, if so, will he state if  any –

(a)             action has been initiated to stop same, and

(b)             legal action has been initiated against the contraveners.

Mr Virahsawmy: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my Ministry was informed on 26 May 2010 that a plot of marshy land was being backfilled behind the Winner’s Supermarket at Central Flacq. During a site visit effected on the same day, it was observed that a plot of land, depicting characteristics of a wetland, was being cleared and backfilled with soil and rocks by a private contractor. In view of the sensitive nature of the land, the contractor was instructed to stop immediately all works on site.

Following further joint site visits and confirmation that the site in question is a wetland, my Ministry issued a Stop Order on 15 July 2010 on the proponent, instructing the latter to –

(i)                  stop the land clearing and development works, and

(ii)                to reinstate the site to the satisfaction of the National Parks and Conservation Service and the National Ramsar Committee by 14 August 2010.

 

With regard to part (b), appropriate action will be initiated in case the proponent does not comply with the conditions of the Stop Order.

Keywords: wetlands, backfilling

 

Debate No. 12 of 17.08.10

IPPs - FLY ASH - TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES

(No. 1A/92) Mr A. Ganoo (First Member for Savanne & Black River) asked the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development whether, in regard to the Technical Advisory Committees, set up to look into the means of disposal of fly ash as a result of the use of coal for power generation, he will –

(a) table a copy of the reports thereof, and

(b) state the remedial measures his Ministry proposes to take to monitor the Independent Power Producers.

Reply: In regard to part (a) of the question, a copy of the report is being tabled.

In regard to part (b) of the question, the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are being and will be monitored as follows –

(i)            a steering committee on coal ash management comprising all the organisations that formed part of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has been set up under the lead of my Ministry to look into and monitor the implementation of the recommendations made by the TAC;

(ii)            through the enforcement of the Environment Protection (Industrial Waste Audit) Regulations 2008.  The IPPs are required to -

·                    undertake a waste audit, i.e make an account of the waste generated and keep a record of the origin, composition, quantity and disposal route of such waste;

·                    submit an IWA report and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) stating the measures that will be taken to mitigate adverse environmental impacts, and

·                    an inter-ministerial Monitoring Committee set up under the aegis of my Ministry to oversee the enforcement of the above regulation, is following the situation closely to ensure that the IPPs abide by the above requirements.

(i)      In view of teh risk of pollution and other environmental nuisances that may be caused by disposal of fly and bottom ash and in line with the recommendations made by the TAC, my Ministry has already requested the IPPs to carry out characterisation of coal ash, leachability tets and submit a report thereon. They have also been requested to observe a 200 metres set back distance between coal ash application sites and water bodies including boreholes.

Keywords: fly ash, coal ash