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(Hansard) First Session Tuesday 24 May 2011

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(Hansard) First Session Tuesday 24 May 2011 1 No. 9 of 2011 FIFTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) FIRST SESSION TUESDAY 24 MAY 2011 2 CONTENTS PAPERS LAID QUESTIONS (Oral) MOTIONS BILLS (Public) ADJOURNMENT QUESTIONS (Written) 3 Members Members THE CABINET (Formed by Dr. the Hon. Navinchandra Ramgoolam) Dr. the Hon. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs FRCP and External Communications Dr. the Hon. Ahmed Rashid Beebeejaun, GCSK, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and FRCP Public Utilities Hon. Charles Gaëtan Xavier-Luc Duval, GCSK Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment Hon. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economic Development Hon. Anil Kumar Bachoo, GOSK Minister of Public Infrastructure, National Development Unit, Land Transport and Shipping Dr. the Hon. Arvin Boolell, GOSK Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Dr. the Hon. Abu Twalib Kasenally, FRCS Minister of Housing and Lands Hon. Mrs Sheilabai Bappoo, GOSK Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare Hon. Nandcoomar Bodha Minister of Tourism and Leisure Dr. the Hon. Vasant Kumar Bunwaree Minister of Education and Human Resources Hon. Satya Veryash Faugoo Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security Hon. Showkutally Soodhun Minister of Industry and Commerce Hon. Devanand Virahsawmy, GOSK Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development 4 Dr. the Hon. Rajeshwar Jeetah Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology Hon. Satyaprakash Ritoo Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions Hon. Louis Hervé Aimée Minister of Local Government and Outer Islands Hon. Mrs Santi Bai Hanoomanjee Minister of Health and Quality of Life Hon. Mookhesswur Choonee Minister of Arts and Culture Hon. Tassarajen Pillay Chedumbrum Minister of Information and Communication Technology Hon. Louis Joseph Von-Mally, GOSK Minister of Fisheries and Rodrigues Hon. Ashit Kumar Gungah Minister of Civil Service Affairs and Administrative Reforms Hon Shakeel Ahmed Yousuf Abdul Razack Mohamed Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Hon Yatindra Nath Varma Attorney General Hon John Michaël Tzoun Sao Yeung Sik Yuen Minister of Business, Enterprise, Cooperatives and Consumer Protection 5 Members Members PRINCIPAL OFFICERS AND OFFICIALS Mr Speaker Purryag, Hon. Rajkeswur, GCSK, GOSK Deputy Speaker Roopun, Hon. Prithvirajsing Deputy Chairman of Committees Hossen, Hon. Abdullah Hafeez Clerk of the National Assembly Dowlutta, Mr R. Ranjit Deputy Clerk Lotun, Mrs B. Safeena Clerk Assistant Ramchurn, Ms Urmeelah Devi Chief Hansard Reporter and Lam Shu On, Ms Clivie Sub-Editor Senior Library Officer Pallen, Mr Noël Serjeant-at-Arms Munroop, Mr Kishore 6 MAURITIUS Fifth National Assembly --------------- FIRST SESSION --------- Debate No. 9 of 2011 Sitting of Tuesday 24 May 2011 The Assembly met in the Assembly House, Port Louis, at 11.30 a.m The National Anthem was played (Mr Speaker in the Chair) 7 PAPERS LAID The Prime Minister: Sir, the Papers have been laid on the Table - Prime Minister’s Office - A. (a) Certificate of Urgency in respect of the following Bills - (i) The Senior Citizens Council (Amendment) Bill (No. XI of 2011). (ii) The Preliminary Inquiry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (No. XII of 2011). (b) The Representation of the People (Variation of Dates) Order 2011 (Government Notice No. 74 of 2011). B. Ministry of Arts and Culture - The Annual Report 2005-2006 of the Mauritius Film Development Corporation (MFDC). 8 ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS CWA - WATER SUPPLY The Leader of the Opposition (Mr P. Bérenger) (By Private Notice) asked the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities whether, in regard to water, he will - (a) for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Central Water Authority, information as to the - (i) reasons for the increase in water losses, since 2007; (ii) sums spent yearly on pipes replacement, since 2005; (iii) reasons for delays in the construction and rehabilitation of dams and drilling of new boreholes, and (iv) status of the Mare Longue/Mare aux Vacoas Project; (b) for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Wastewater Management Authority, information as to the volume of treated wastewater discharged into the sea; (c) state the impact of deforestation on the supply thereof, and (d) state the remedial measures that will be taken. The Ag. Prime Minister (Dr. R. Beebeejaun): Mr Speaker Sir, I thank the hon. Leader of the Opposition for raising the water situation in the House and give an opportunity to provide information accordingly. The House would like to know that, over the years, in fact, over the last 60 years, there has been a gradual decrease of around 11% in rainfall including the catchment area of Mare aux Vacoas reservoir. This year has been exceptional: Summer rainfall between November to mid- May has been deficient, and the Mare aux Vacoas region has recorded only around 60% of normal. Our potable water supply depends 50% on boreholes and 20% on river off-take, both of which are subject to seasonal fluctuations, and the remaining 30% from stored water. With regard to part (a)(i) of the question, the figures for water losses, strictly speaking, are not available as such. I am talking of water losses. We have figures for Non revenue water 9 which is a sum of technical losses and commercial losses, which includes illegal abstraction. The hon. Leader of the Opposition has mentioned it himself that, often, the figures mentioned are subject to a lot of scepticism about the apportionment and leaks. A study carried out by Severn Trent between 2004 and 2006 underlines the difficulties to establish the baseline data. The Severn Trent report states that it has not been able to identify any recognisable audit trail or validation process applied to the data gathered for Non revenue water purposes. Mr Speaker, Sir, concerning part (a)(i) of the question, in reply to PQ 1B/203 of 2010, I informed the House that the increase in the level of Non revenue water could be mainly due to the state of the water supply network which, in some regions, dates back to more than 100 years. Some 1,800 kms of network is made up of asbestos cement, cast iron and steel pipes, which have since long outlived their economic and technical life span. The cost of replacement of these inefficient pipelines is estimated at around Rs10 billion. The level of Non revenue water, which was estimated at 44.4% in 2007 and is estimated to have reached 49% in 2010, could be due partly to an increase in the hours of supply, especially in 2009. Action has been initiated since last year for the replacement of pipelines in regions where the level of Non revenue water has become critical. In the 2010 Budget, a provision of Rs640 m. was made to finance the first phase of the Action Plan to reduce Non revenue water . The pipelines being replaced are as follows - (i) Camp Fouquereaux-Alma (ii) Camp Thorel-Salazie (iii) Plaine des Papayes-Triolet (iv) Pierrefonds (v) Beemanic-Balisson (vi) Old pipelines in Port Louis (vii) Quartier Militaire-Mont Ida (viii) Mont Ida-Unité 10 Furthermore, under the ongoing Plaines Wilhems Sewerage Project, some 185 kms of water pipes will be replaced. Phase II of the Action Plan to reduce Non revenue water will require an investment of Rs896 m. As regards part (a) (ii) of the question, I am informed by the CWA that the sum spent yearly on Rehabilitation and Water Distribution network are as follows - Financial Year Sum (Rs M.) 2005-2006 325 2006-2007 348 2007-2008 254 2008-2009 170 2009-2010 324 2011 900 TOTAL 2,321 Since 2005, some Rs2.5 billion have been provided for the rehabilitation of the network. In 2011, nearly Rs1 billion has been budgeted for the replacement of old water pipelines. With regard to part (a)(iii) of the question on construction and rehabilitation of dams, studies for the safety analysis of dams were carried out for five dams of Mauritius and the Municipal Dyke from 1997 to 2000. Rehabilitation of three dams/dyke, the Mare aux Vacoas Dam, La Nicolière Dam and the Municipal Dyke at Pailles are already completed. Consultancy services for the rehabilitation of La Ferme are currently under evaluation, and will be awarded soon. The rehabilitation process - I have already mentioned this in the House - has been delayed due to the presence of squatters downstream of the dam. The Ministry of Housing and Lands is working on the relocation of squatters. In my reply to a recent Private Notice Question, I provided extensive information to the House on the implementation of the Bagatelle dam. I do not wish to go back again to what I said, except to say that, between 2000 and 2004, after a feasibility study, the site of the dam was changed and we had to start all over again, but I am glad to say that now it is going smoothly and 11 the contract for Bagatelle will be awarded shortly, and works are expected to start before the end of this year. The dam is expected to be operational by the end of 2014. Mr Speaker, Sir, in order to improve water supply in the south, the construction of a dam at Rivière des Anguilles is planned. The consultancy services for the supervision of works for the Rivière des Anguilles dam are being evaluated at the level of the Central Procurement Board. Bids for the works contract will be launched early next year. The project which will be funded by the AFD will be completed by 2015. Construction is being looked into by the Consultant carrying the Master Plan for the development of water resources.
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