[Bagatelle Mall of Mauritius – Wastewater]

Debate No. 34 of 06.12.11

BAGATELLE MALL OF MAURITIUS – WASTE WATER

(No. A/394) Dr. R. Sorefan (Fourth Member for La Caverne & Phoenix) asked the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development whether, in regard to the Bagatelle Mall of Mauritius, he will state if he has been informed of the bad smells emanating from the waste water thereat, in the vicinity of the present bus stop thereby causing inconveniences to the visitors thereof and, if so, indicate if urgent remedial steps will be taken.

Reply: Following complaint received on 2 November 2011 concerning bad smell emanating from Bagatelle Mall of Mauritius, an urgent site visit was effected on the same day by officers of my Ministry.

During the site visit, a foul odour was detected in the vicinity of the present bus stop, at the parking and along the motorway facing the shopping mall.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life which is the Enforcing Agency for odour nuisance as per the Environment Protection Act 2002, was requested to investigate into the matter and initiate appropriate remedial action at their end.

I am informed that the Enforcing Agency has already issued a sanitary notice to ENL Property Limited (Owner of Bagatelle Mall) on 28 October 2011 to stop foul odour emanating from its premises within a delay of five days.

A follow up site visit effected by officers of Ministry of Health and Quality of life observed that the Notice has not been complied with. A contravention was established on the same day against ENL Property Limited.

During site visits effected on 28th November and 2nd December 2011 by officers of my Ministry no odour nuisance was discerned in the vicinity of the present bus stop, at the parking and along the motorway facing the shopping mall. However, a mild odour (inherent to wastewater treatment) was discerned only in the close vicinity of the treatment plant.

Keywords: Bagatelle Mall of Mauritius, odour