Truck Driver Fined Rs 25,000 for Illegal Dumping

A 50-year-old truck driver has been fined Rs 25,000 and ordered to clear up construction debris he illegally dumped in Mauritius. The driver was caught red-handed by the Environmental Police on Tuesday, September 16, at approximately 4pm, as he was disposing of the waste on an empty plot of land along the Trianon Link Road Phoenix Highlands.

Under the Environment Act 2024, the driver was issued the fine for illegal dumping and given two days to remove all of the debris from the site.

The incident was one of two recent cases highlighted by the Environmental Police.

The other involved a poultry farm owner who was also fined Rs 25,000 for illegally dumping liquid waste and poultry waste.

This second case, which caused a maggot infestation, was discovered on an empty plot of land next to the Citron River in the Canton Nancy area of Pamplemousses.

Rajesh Bhagwan, the Minister for the Environment, Solid Waste Management, and Climate Change, said authorities would be “merciless against environmental criminals” and that the government would amend the law to make punishments even more severe.

He also praised the public for reporting such illegal dumping incidents.

Source: Le Mauricien