Controversial Luxury Villas Project Suspended Following “Stop Order”

The Ministry of the Environment has issued a “stop order” to halt the construction of nine luxury villas in Pereybère, an area classified as a protected wetland. This project has faced increasing opposition from local residents since 2019, primarily due to its environmental impact and concerns regarding the legitimacy of its approval and progress.

The construction of these villas had begun without the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is mandatory for such developments.

The controversy surrounding the project dates back to May 2019 when the developer submitted a request for Ramsar clearance to the National Ramsar Committee (NRC) to initiate development on the site.

However, the NRC rejected this request on May 31, 2019, determining that 81% of the property lies within the Grand Mare Longue Central wetland area, as outlined by the Ministry of Housing and Land Use Planning.

This area is classified as category 2 of coastal marshes, granting it special protections.

Despite multiple appeals made in 2019 and 2021 for the NRC to reconsider its decision, no changes were made.

Assessments, including field visits, consistently confirmed significant ecological impact from the project on the wetland.

Several of the plans submitted by the developer were deemed inaccurate in relation to the official boundaries of the area.

A turning point occurred on December 23, 2021, when the NRC president, after visiting the site with representatives from the National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS) and the Rivière-du-Rempart District Council, stated that no wetland areas were observed.

Following this visit, the committee provisionally granted Ramsar clearance, contingent upon the developer submitting an EIA and obtaining the necessary permits.

However, confusion arose due to an administrative error: discussions regarding the EIA permit were not included in the meeting minutes.

Despite an official request for correction in January 2022, the minutes were never amended.

Construction work commenced in August 2024, provoking strong backlash from local residents who filed complaints with the relevant authorities.

They alerted the NPCS, which subsequently wrote to the NRC secretary in November 2024, requesting the revocation of the Ramsar clearance.

Authorities have confirmed that a significant portion of the site is still classified as wetland, and the NRC’s response is pending.

In parallel, construction proceeded without an EIA permit—an essential legal requirement for this type of development.

In light of these irregularities, the Ministry of the Environment decided to issue a “stop order” to suspend all work on the project.

While the NRC has been slow to respond regarding the revocation of Ramsar clearance, the Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing legal protections for the environment.

Source: Defi Media