Prakash Maunthrooa avoids journalists’ questions

Central Water Authority (CWA) director general Prakash Maunthrooa must have felt very lonely during the Q&A session if he had called all the top executives to face reporters at a press conference yesterday. His speech yesterday was almost similar to that of a month ago: he claimed that CWA employees had replaced 291 km of pipes at a cost of Rs 70 crore through an in-house pipe replacement programme.

When asked if in fact he did not use hired labour, external labour, Prakash Maunthrooa did not deny it and when asked about the wages of these external workers, he responded with a question “Is there anything wrong with that?” Then he said he did not have the figures at hand. When the reporter asked him if he could get the figures since the press conference was held at the CWA grounds and all the executives were present, Maunthrooa promised to give us the figures soon. Hiring labor It is not illegal. In short, the Internal Replacement Program is not really a program.

Morning Case

Prakash Maunthrooa explained that the pipes are buried more than a metre underground. But we asked why the pipes at Le Morne were installed on land and sand. “They will be buried later.” For residents of Le Morne village, they have no regular water supply and during heavy rains the water fills with mud and is unusable. General manager CWA again explained that the work was not yet complete and that the existing network had 65% leakage.

this board Did the CWA reject the project to connect the three hotels in Le Morne to the network because the volume of water delivered was too large (2,500 m3/day) and would affect the surrounding villages? Monsroa’s response: “The board did not reject the project and the other information is completely false,” He hammered furiously, asking:“Isn’t it the responsibility of the China Water Authority to provide water for domestic, industrial and commercial use, including hotels?” Does the hotel pay for these amenities? “Yes of course.” Are they paid domestic or commercial rates? Prakash Maunthrooa leaked: “Let other reporters ask questions.”

Another reporter wanted to comment on the investigation that followed the former insider’s allegations. Chief Auditor Yusra Lal Mahmed. Monsroa defended himself: “Accusations are not the words of the gospel.” When another reporter asked him if he was going «Step down» During the investigation, he joked “Yes, yes, you are right… After I finish this work, I have to leave. You are right! All capable people must leave, top, top…” Isn’t there a risk of interfering with the evidence? the reporter insisted. “Oh, Dad. If someone files charges… we’ll shut down the agency (Editor’s note, CWA)! ” Responding to another journalist’s question, Maunthrooa did not seem to deny the resigned audience’s allegation that the Rs 70 crore would be used partly to fund other projects. “But as long as you work (Editor’s note: laying pipelines) Has been completed.”

Chief Engineer Chandrasen Matadeen would surprise everyone by claiming that CWA replaced the pipe not based on a study he had just talked about, but based on the number of complaints received and the repairs done or future needs. At the same time, he would also admit that the old pipe remained in the ground. Maunthrooa came to help Matadeen while calling for engineers to come to the rescue, “You act like you want to replace all these engineers! No ‘seri’ (sic). As for your statement that the pipeline was changed just to give the contractors a contract, you must be held accountable for your remarks.” Prakash Maunhrooa did not want to comment on Yousra Lalmahomed’s report. He stuck to the Ministry of Finance’s stand.

This is difficult (hard General manager Gaëtan Armoogum of CWA did not want to reveal the amounts paid to Great Standard Solutions Ltd and New Standard Solutions, nor how many companies belonging to Ferosekhan Puttaroo received contracts from CWA. How did Great Standard Solutions Ltd, a company established on February 6, 2023, still receive contracts? Gaëtan Armoogum responded: “The procurement procedures were strictly followed.” At the same time, it is recognized that the chairman of the selection committee is himself. Why are some tenders not launched through e-procurement? Amogumu: “It’s not mandatory.” It’s time for a snack, said Prakash Maunthrooa, who must admit that these exchanges left him with a dry mouth.