Ramgoolam Defends 35% Increase in Water Tariff

Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam made this statement at the inauguration of the construction of Bagatelle dam on Thursday.

He was referring to critics of the opposition party who slammed the 35 per cent increase in water tariff.

The PM affirmed that Mauritius has one of the lowest water tariffs in the world and there was a need to increase it as revenue is needed to invest in various projects to modernise the water sector.

“However, some 100,000 families using less than 10 cubic metres of water are exempted from the increase but the opposition will obviously not see this,” he said.

The PM also reminded that the Midlands dam project was launched under his leadership in 2000. “The Bagatelle dam is also part of this series of projects to satisfy water demands on the island but when the former MMM-MSM government took over, the project was delayed. It is my government, which is launching the Bagatelle dam construction,” he said.

Ramgoolam also talked about Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam’s vision who went to China 40 years ago to build bilateral relations.

The Bagatelle dam, being built with help from China, is expected to be ready by 2014 and will cost Rs 3.4 billion. It will have a capacity of 14 million m3 of water.

It will cater to Port Louis, upper Plaines Wilhems and some sections in the west.