Africa-Press – Mauritius. In line with Government’s vision to ensure an adequate and sustainable supply of water across the country, the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, inaugurated, this afternoon, two new service reservoirs at Cluny and Riche-en-Eau, constructed to the tune of Rs 74 million.
The Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Mr Georges Pierre Lesjongard; the Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance, Mr Mahen Kumar Seeruttun; the Government Chief Whip, Ms Naveena Ramyad; the General Manager of the Central Water Authority (CWA), Mr R.
Maunthrooa, as well as other eminent personalities were also present. Addressing the inhabitants of the locality, Prime Minister Jugnauth, highlighted that the two projects have been concretised with the aim of bringing relief to the population, improving access to clean water and enhancing the quality of life of citizens.
Government, he stated, is investing massively in major infrastructural projects geared to the long-term enhancement of the island’s climate resilience and water security. He observed that countries around the world are facing many difficult challenges in terms of floods and droughts due to climatic change.
“The challenges are numerous but we as the Government have to redouble our efforts in investing in infrastructure and increase the capacity of reservoirs to stock water”, he stated.
He remarked that there are presently four boreholes in the country providing around 25 000 cubic meters of water everyday for some 32 villages such Bambou Virieux and L’escalier.
The construction of more boreholes need to be pursued and the capacity of storage for reservoirs need to be reinforced, underlined the Prime Minister.
PM Jugnauth indicated that the capacity of Cluny and Riche-en-Eau reservoirs have been increased to 3000 cubic meter and 2000 cubic meter respectively to supply around 43, 000 inhabitants of the region and surrounding villages.
The CWA, he remarked, is in discussion with the Ciel Group for acquiring a land of five arpents for the installation of equipment for extraction of underground water and exploring new sources of water.
Prime Minister Jugnauth lauded the skills and competence of the employees of the CWA in upgrading modern infrastructural water systems to improve the water distribution network across the country including the renewal and replacement of pipes to reduce water loss.
As at July 2023, he underpinned, the CWA has already replaced 72.5 kilometers of water pipes. It is also setting up mobile filter pressures in the region of Tyack, Ferney, Nouvelle France and Plaine Magnien, he added.
He called for a stronger public and private partnership as well as the collaboration of the civil society to be able to achieve the vision of accessing clean and safe water on a 24/7 basis.
For his part, Minister Lesjongard underlined a series of projects that have been completed adding that two new service reservoirs at Salazie and Eau Bouille will soon be inaugurated.
He indicated that the Prime Minister chairs a High Level Committee on Water to stock of major projects to improve water supply and ease access of funds for better water infrastructure.
He further highlighted that the grant for water tanks and pump has been increased from Rs 8 000 to Rs 15 0000so that more people benefit from the grant.
As for Minister Seeruttun, he lauded the efforts of the CWA for the construction of two new reservoirs with a reinforced capacity to better serve the local inhabitants.
He spoke of the harms of climate change on water security and called upon the population to avoid wasting water as well as to use water cautiously. Government, he said, has put in place several schemes at the disposal of the population for water tanks and rain harvesting systems.
Mr Maunthrooa, for his part, indicated that there is substantial progress in the water sector in terms of water connectivity with pipe replacement programmes and new sources of water.
He mentioned that further development as regards water supply has been carried out in regions such as La Sourdine, L’escalier, Bon Accueil and will pursue in other regions across the island.
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