Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, effected various site visits in different regions of the country, this afternoon, to take stock of the flooding problems that residents and operators of the sugarcane plantation sector encountered with the prevalence of the recent adverse weather conditions, more particularly with the torrential rainfall brought forth by the passage of cyclone Belal.
PM Jugnauth, accompanied by the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun; the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Mr Kavydass Ramano; the Minister of National Infrastructure and Community Development, Mr Mahendranuth Sharma Hurreeram; and the Member of Parliament, Mr Yogida Sawmynaden, effected a site visit at Gentilly and L’Avenir in St Pierre, where he met residents whose houses were affected by water accumulations.
They later proceeded to L’Unité and Petit Paquet in Camp De Masque Pavé, where they were joined by the Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives,Mr Soomilduth Bholah, the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Teeruthraj Hurdoyal and the Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mr Sanjit Kumar Nuckcheddy.
Representatives of the concerned District Councils, the ENL Group and Alteo Limited, were also present on the occasion. In a statement after the site visits at St Pierre, the Prime Minister underlined that the inhabitants of the region have been given the opportunity to report to the authorities the flooding problems they encountered following heavy rainfall spanning over various days.
He reassured that the technical officers of the concerned Ministries and the authorities of the District Council of Moka are probing into these issues and will devise the necessary solutions.
Furthermore, PM Jugnauth rejoiced that the Government is benefiting from the collaboration of the private sector in this endeavour. In addition, the Prime Minister underlined that water accumulation and flooding are natural phenomena being experienced following the impacts of climate change.
The existing drains were not able to channel the water accumulated by the heavy downpour of the torrential rainfall in that short span of time, he stressed.
Moreover, Mr Jugnauth reiterated his unflinching support to the inhabitants, stating that Government will do the needful to relieve them from the problems they faced.
Following the site visits at L’Unité and Petit Paquet, PM Jugnauth said that sugarcane fields in these regions were affected by the heavy downpours where accumulated water overflooded areas in the village.
The authorities with the support of the private sector are working together to look at the underlying causes of the water accumulations that were caused, and accordingly, come up with solutions and decide on the required infrastructure to avoid such issues, he indicated.
Mr Jugnauth also pointed out that the authorities will analyse the mechanisation of sugarcane cultivations across the Island to determine the conditions required to prevent the same occurrences.
He again recalled that water accumulations are more likely to happen in the wake of climate change, emphasising that these problems are globally felt.
PM Jugnauth reaffirmed Government’s will to take the necessary measures to tackle such situations while calling for the support and patience of all citizens.
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