Four land bank projects ready for allocation |11 March 2020
Dame Le Roi (Baie Lazare)
Four land bank projects – Anse Corail in Takamaka, Dame Le Roi in Baie Lazare, Barbarons in Grand Anse Mahé, andLe Niole Bel Ombre – will undergo allocation processes by the first quarter of 2020.
The lands department within the Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport made the announcement yesterday through a communique.
Principal secretary for lands Fanette Albert made the announcement recently during a press conference with other members of the land bank project committee comprising heads from the infrastructure department and survey division of the ministry alongside heads from the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) electricity, water and sewage divisions.
PS Albert noted that in 2017 there was the first land point system (LPS) exercise. This allowed the ministry to firstly establish the current demand for land. Secondly, numerous technical procedures and feasibility studies were conducted to establish numerous land bank projects based on the availability of land in different districts. The land bank project committee was later created in 2019 to manage and oversee the progress of land bank projects at different stages and under the responsibility of the various departments involved with the projects.
“Following the first exercise, 200 applicants qualified for a plot of land in their respective regions. We have 434 available plots to be allocated during the course of this year,” explained PS Albert.
In his State-of-the-nation address President Danny Faure stated that “this year with stronger preparation and support, our plan is to deliver 434 plots of land in 13 districts”.
PS Albert also reminded the public of the various steps of the allocation process conducted by the ministry.
“We are in the process of evaluating all the plots ready, meaning all necessary infrastructure such as roads, water, and electricity connections are there. Upon completion of the evaluation, we will call in all qualified applicants for a lot drawing, for them to choose a plot of land from their respective land bank project. Following the lot drawing exercise together with surveyors the applicants will visit their chosen plot for the beacon and boundaries identification. Once that is completed we make an offer to the applicant based on the value of the chosen plot. We then give the individual a period of 14 days to settle payment if they are paying cash and a period of two months if they are paying through a bank loan. Once all this is agreed we prepare the lease and send it to the Attorney General’s Office,” asserted PS Albert.
On his part, the director for contract management in the department of infrastructure, Jitesh Shah, confirmed the various land bank projects which are currently in the design stage and others which the department has already started with the implementation of the project.
“Projects still in the design stages are ex Holden Pierre in Anse Boileau, Dan Bamboo in Anse Royale, Cape St Marie in Anse Boileau, Dan Limon in Port Glaud, ex Zelia in Anse Boileau and two projects at Takamaka. One project at Sorento in Glacis has completed the design stage and already underwent the tender process for implementation. Other projects which we have reached the implementation phase are at ex Mellon in Pointe Larue, La Gogue (Phase 1), Nouvelle Vallée and Lo Lanmar in Beau Vallon, L’Union Estate on La Digue and at Machabée,” expressed Mr Shah.
Answering questions related to the delays encountered before the completion of the land bank projects, Mr Shah explained that delays of projects are mainly because of complicated sites or the project may still be in the design stage.
“In the past, we rushed with the implementation of projects and along the way this caused even more delays. Currently, we ensure that everything looks good on paper before we implement it, ensuring that we have received the correct alignments from survey with all necessary details so that once the contractor is awarded the project there are no major delays,” explained Mr Shah.
It was also explained that nowadays site constraints are more apparent and with issues of climate change the country is experiencing, more rainfall which is another factor of delayed projects.
On his part, the managing director for the electricity division at PUC, Ravin Sunasee, clarified that for PUC there are no major delays encountered by the consumers.
“Once an applicant starts the construction of his/her house and files his/her application with PUC within two weeks the individual is immediately connected with water and electricity due to existing infrastructures,” stated Mr Sunasee.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport has embarked on a more proactive communication plan aimed at keeping the public informed of various ongoing projects. During the course of the year, the public will be updated as to when various projects are completed and delivered by the different departments.
Contributed by the Ministry of Habitat, Infrastructure and Land Transport
