Erosion: Rs 85.5 Million to Pay for Repairing the Beaches

Restore the beach of Cap Malheureux cost the state Rs 3.5 million. Another package of Rs 12 million will be for Bain Boeuf Rs 10 million for Powder-d'Or. But the biggest project will be implemented in Baie-du-Cap at a cost of Rs 46.7 million. Meanwhile, small rehabilitation projects will be undertaken beaches across the country to prevent further degrade beaches. 

An extensive program of rehabilitation of beaches will be undertaken in 2013. A sum of Rs 70 million is planned for this project. To the beach of Le Morne, the State will have to pay Rs 13.5 million, Rs 4.5 million for La Prairie, Rs 12 million for the Four Sisters and with respect Preneuse The amount is not yet rated .

The rehabilitation of beaches will be intensified in 2014. Another package of Rs 70 million is planned for this work. A Grand Sable, the work will cost Rs 4.5 million to the State, Rs 12 million in Pointe-du-Diable, Rs 20 million for the range of Bois-des-Amourettes. For the rehabilitation of Grande-Rivière-Sud-Est amount has not yet been decided. 

The problem of erosion has increased over the years due to the combined action of natural phenomena and rare human activities, including the rapid development of the coastline. The status of beaches has deteriorated with construction work done along the coastal regions and the extraction of sand from the lagoon for construction. 

Actions taken so far to fight against beach erosion include among others, the work of filling, the creation of gabions, the placement of groynes, building walls lining, removal of casuarinas on the dynamic part of the beaches, and the application of a policy setbacks for the construction of concrete structures.

Experience has shown that the installation of gabions on the beaches has not produced the desired results, it says in the Ministry of Environment. They were damaged in a relatively short time by the regular passage of bathers and wave motion. This type of protection is not suitable for public beaches due to the large number of people who go to sea every weekend. Cases the best known are those of Flic en Flac and Rivière-des-rollers. It should find ways stronger protective coverings such as stone, as recommended in the report Bairds, or development of artificial reefs. 

In addition, climate change and rising sea levels resulting from this phenomenon accentuated beach erosion, hence the need for urgent action. It goes without saying that the short-term measures taken so far to protect and rehabilitate the beaches are not a sustainable solution to fight effectively against the movement of waves and tsunamis. 

Accordance with the program to adapt to climate change of Department of Environment, it is important to find more effective ways such as the installation of breakwaters in the lagoon and restore the coral reef to mitigate the impact of waves on beaches. 

Construction of shelter blades in the lagoon will necessitate extensive studies and the establishment of a program of capacity building. The training should focus on assessment procedures and the design of conservation projects. To have such skills, Mauritius will have to rely on help from countries with the necessary experience in this field.