Damaged streets in Sorèze: an investigation called for

• Work as part of a RES project singled out
• The promoter would not have an EIA permit

In a letter dated February 4, MP Osman Mahomed, MP for constituency no. 2 (Port-Louis Sud-Port-Louis Centre), alerts PPS Sandra Mayotte and Subhasnee Luchmun Roy, as well as the Chief Executive of the municipality of Port-Louis and the CEO of the Economic Development Board (EDB), Ken Poonoosamy, on the situation prevailing in Sorèze. “Several roads were badly damaged after the heavy rains during the passage of cyclone Belal on January 15,” he points out.

Referring to the “irritation” of residents, Osman Mahomed explains that according to information obtained on the ground from them, earthworks are the source of the problem. “The normal flow of water has been seriously disrupted due to obstructions in the existing cut-off drain at the foot of the mountain. According to residents, this situation results from earthworks carried out by the promoter of a RES project. He had undertaken earthworks and leveling work on his plot of land located nearby in order to obtain a building permit,” continues the MP.

According to him, at a time when the Sorèze region and other districts of Port-Louis, located in a “coastal squeeze” between the mountain ranges and the ocean, need more drains at the foot of the mountains, this can only make things worse. “Clogging existing diversion drains, as is allegedly happening here, can only compound the devastating effects of storm waters on road and drainage infrastructure, as well as properties,” it points out. light.

Osman Mahomed reports that for the moment, he went to Kingfisher, Rouget, Flamboyants, Capitaine, Babonne and Marlin avenues. According to him, some of these roads are currently impassable. The deputy plans to undertake other visits to Sorèze. He appeals to the authorities to take this case seriously. “We need to clean these drains before the next rains to avoid further damage. I also request the opening of an investigation to take the necessary measures to remedy the situation. If it is indeed these works which are at the origin, it is not the taxpayers who must pay, but the developer,” insists the MP.

According to residents, the roads have been cleared, but the large cavities in the bitumen remain and represent a potential danger. “We alerted the authorities several times. We talked about this work in the region. We did earthworks to change the appearance and topography of the land to make it appear that we could build there. This resulted in the obstruction of drains,” we deplore, while indicating that land in the region is prized.

A formal notice was served in 2018

In November 2018, 12 residents of the Sorèze region served a formal notice on the promoter of the “Paradis de Sorèze” project. They asked Deepak Tulsidas, the main shareholder of the project, to restore the site so that it does not represent any risk for the inhabitants of Morcellement Aloès during the rainy period. They also wanted the drains, which had been blocked during the work, to be cleaned.

As a reminder, the Paradis de Sorèze was to be a project of 13 villas, with a “jogging track” and a “wellness center” on an area of ​​7 acres and 8 perches, in Sorèze.