October 2024 Agricultural Leases Cancelled for 12 Beneficiaries

In a shocking turn of events, the Ministry of Agro-Industry has delivered a bitter blow to over a dozen individuals who had recently secured agricultural land under the Land Lease Agreement with the Irrigation Authority. These unsuspecting beneficiaries, each having been granted a plot of land in the picturesque locales of Belle-Mare and New Grove, were met with dismay upon opening their correspondence from the ministry.

Their agreements, signed on 4th October 2024—merely a month prior to the impending general elections—have been abruptly annulled.

The majority of these agricultural parcels are situated in Belle-Mare, a region now shrouded in uncertainty.

When approached for comment, G. Seetah, the former Director-General of the Irrigation Authority, sidestepped the issue entirely.

A close relative of Sudheer Maudhoo, the former Minister of Blue Economy and Fisheries, Seetah offered no clarity on the circumstances surrounding the allocation of these plots, nor could he confirm whether all recipients met the necessary eligibility criteria.

Moreover, he refrained from addressing reports suggesting that some beneficiaries had plans for real estate developments and service stations on the land in question.

Similarly, Deenal Dhuny, the former Chairman of the Board of the Irrigation Authority, also declined to shed light on this troubling matter.

The last-minute giveaways implemented by the previous regime in 2024 are raising significant concerns regarding their electoral campaign practices.

Source: Le Mauricien