Chamarel Road Project: 9-Month Closure Ignites Environmental Concerns

Works to “stabilize” the road in Chamarel will soon begin. The Ministry of Transport has issued a statement to inform users that Road B103 between the Rhumerie de Chamarel and the Plaine-Champagne View-point is closed starting today for nine months for work by China International Water and Electrical Corp (CWE).

Mauritians, especially tourists will therefore have to take long detours to visit Chamarel or its restaurants. “It is urgent to allocate contracts before the elections…”, comments a restaurant owner.

In Chamarel, the hill slopes are decimated. For opposition MP Joanna Bérenger, these detours hide the ongoing destruction, noting that the site is home to rare endemic trees and the famous kestrel, a bird declared national in 2022 and in danger of extinction.

The opposition MP wonders if an environmental impact study was done before this work and plans to ask a question to the Minister of Environment during the parliamentary session. “I hope the minister will not do as with Road B104, hiding behind the private sector, even though it is the government that grants all the permits.”

Source: l’Express