Abandoned land throughout the island is annoying the population, especially since the torrential rains entailed a weeds’ growth. Local authorities and the Minister of Health are also on the alert to counter mosquitoes’ proliferation. However their task is a difficult one as the wasteland owners are untraceable.
“The local authorities, the mayors and the district councils have the responsibility to detect the wastelands and to find their owners” explains the Dr Anil Deelchand, Regional Public Health Superintendent. He explains that sanitary services are generally informed by the municipality for fumigation exercises to be regularly carried out. He states that there is a follow up from the Ministry of Health but it is the local authorities’ duty to map out those lands.
"“I myself carried out a site visit to witness the situation in the capital city”, states the lord-mayor, Sheik Muktar Hossenbacus. Yesterday, he was at La Butte to see the wastelands which are considered as dangerous for the public health. “Those abandoned land constitute a dangerous situation. I asked to my inspectors to find the owners as quickly as possible so that we are able to undertake actions.”"
Procedures to respect
The main issue is that once a wasteland parcel has been identified, the local collectivities cannot undertake any action without the owner’s permission. “This is the law and we cannot go against It.” Says the Beau-Bassin Rose-Hill mayor, Daniel Emilien. “We established a program with our sanitary responsible for everything to happen in the best possible way. We are answering to the grievances but we are forced to wait in some cases.”
Daniel Emillien states that the wasteland mapping is an undergoing process but there is a whole procedure to respect before being able to act.
“We need to find the land owner and notify him that he must get his property cleaned. In certain cases, the owners are not reachable and the case can be delayed.” I fixed a two-weeks deadline for the La Butte land owners to be found and for them to clean their wasteland.” States the lord mayor. In case of failure, there is nothing much which can be done. “Eventually, we can clean the lands ourselves and ask the owners to pay-back the expenses incurred” explains Daniel Emillien.
Still, they have to be found. Without their permission, the authorities are blocked and the fight againt mosquitoes’ proliferation is blocked as well. Once the approval has been given, the fumigation process may start. Otherwise, the authorities have to find other ways. “While we wait for the owners to be found, I asked for the lands’ surroundings to be treated”, explains the lord-mayor.
