Exhibition raises awareness on the sustainable use of water

The Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Mr Ivan Collendavelloo, the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, the Minister of Tourism, Mr Anil Gayan, and other personalities were present.

The exhibition also coincided with a half-day panel discussion which brought together stakeholders from the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities as well as students from the University of Mauritius.  The objectives were to raise awareness on the sustainable use of water and to reflect on the importance of water and water resources.

In his keynote address, the Acting Prime Minister recalled that in line with this year’s theme, ‘Leaving no one behind’, Government is giving, since 2015, free water access to those who use up to 6 000 litres of water monthly.  Around 58 000 Mauritians at the bottom of the social ladder benefit from free water access, he highlighted.

Speaking about accessibility of water, Mr Collendavelloo pointed out that since 2015, 30 895 families have benefitted from an allocation of Rs 5 000 for the purchase of water tanks. Furthermore, Rs 150 million has been made available for the period 2018-2021 for the provision of water tanks to an additional 30 000 families.

As regards the CWA’s pipe replacement project, the Acting Prime Minister highlighted that Government has invested Rs 2.1 billion for the replacement of 155 km of pipes and will provide an additional Rs 3.1 billion for the replacement of 214 km of pipes till 2020.  He also urged the public to be careful of the over exploitation of water usage as 54 % of the water provided to the population comes from aquifers, which is dependent on rainfall.

In addition, Mr Collendavelloo made an appeal to the youth to take up their responsibilities as the future generation and to sensitise their elders about climate change and its consequences.  The youth, he pointed out, has the responsibility to take initiatives to preserve and not waste resources and to impart this knowledge to their parents.

For her part, Minister Dookun-Luchoomun urged the population to use water, which is a precious resource, in a judicious manner.  Many people, she highlighted, do not have access to water around the world, hence, the need to improve the water crisis situation and identify solutions to tackle the problem.

Speaking about accessibility of water, Minister Gayan recalled that in Mauritius, Government is investing heavily in proper water infrastructure so as to ensure easy access to water for the whole population.  Around the world, due to poor infrastructure, one in three people do not have access to safe and clean water while in the United States, 2.1 trillion litres of clean water are lost each year, he said.

Activities to mark World Water Day 2019

Several activities are being organised by the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities and the CWA to mark World Water Day 2019.  A four-day event is being held at La Marie and Pailles Water Treatment plants from 18 to 21 March 2019.

A play/sketch competition has been launched as an activity for secondary school students who are invited to write and showcase a short play on the occasion of World Water Day 2019.  A painting competition has also been launched as an activity for primary schools where students must create a unique painting for World Water Day 2019 in relation to the theme.

Exhibitions will also take place at the CWA’s Sub Offices in Rose Belle, Flacq and Souillac, the Farmers Service Centre of Goodlands and the Social Welfare Centre of Bambous.

World Water Day

The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. Since then, the Day has been commemorated internationally as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

The 2019 theme – ‘Leaving No One Behind’- is an adaptation of the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  It is the 6^th Sustainable Development Goal and aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water for all by 2030, which, by definition means, leaving no one behind.