Elimination of Waste through Recycling
149. Another aspect of our strategy to protect the environment is to engage in recycling activities to reduce waste.
150. With a view to promoting local recycling of used PET bottles, I am increasing the financial incentive given to local manufacturers from Rs 5 to Rs 15 per kilo of used PET bottles.
Controlling Pollution on our Roads
151. To better control pollution caused by vehicles, the importation of new auto cycles and motor cycles will be restricted to those complying with Euro standards. Those fitted with 2-stroke engines and which emit high level of pollutants will be banned.
152. Appropriate legislative framework will be established to regulate the disposal of vehicles in specialised Scrap Yard at the end of their economic life. The vehicles declared total loss will not be allowed to be used again on our roads and scrapping of these vehicles will be made mandatory.
Pursuing our Commitment to 24-7 Water Supply
153. I will now elaborate on our plan for the water sector which is at the very core of our environmental policy - critical for our
socio-economic development and healthy ecosystems.
154. Our resolve to have 24-7 water supply across the country for all households is undiminished. We are making good progress in upgrading, rebuilding and expanding our water infrastructure.
155. Today, some 227,400 households have 24-7 access to water supply compared with 166,750 in 2014. This is an increase of 36 percent.
156. Our plan is to speed up that progress.An important part of that progress is due to the Water Tank Scheme that allows families to have 24-7 access to water even when there are disruptions in the supply system.
157. I am pleased to announce that we will increase our support under the Water Tank Scheme to reach out to an additional 30,000 households over the next three years. I am also raising the income eligibility threshold under that scheme fromRs 25,000 to Rs 30,000.
158. Furthermore, an individual investing in a rainwater harvesting system will be allowed to deduct the total cost of such a system from his taxable income.
159. Some Rs 3.3 billion will be invested in the replacement of
300 kilometers of pipeline, construction of 5 service reservoirs, replacement of 75,000 water meters and construction of the water treatment plant at Bagatelle, amongst others, over the next three years.
160. Madam Speaker, let me reassure the population that this Government will not increase the water tariffs.
161. However, we need to discourage excessive water usage. To this end, domestic customers who have a swimming pool will have to pay a fixed additional monthly charge of Rs 500 if their monthly water consumption exceeds 50 cubic meters.
162. I now come to our energy policy.
163. Our goal is to maintain an energy system that features environmental and economic sustainability while ensuring an adequate supply at all times. To this end,
• We are first, commissioning up to 6 additional solar farms;
• Second, we are increasing battery storage from 4 MW to 18MW;
• Third, we are implementing a waste-to-energy project that will generate at least 20 MW of electricity;
• Fourth, we are introducing a new Small-Scale Distributed Generation (SSDG) Scheme;
• Fifth, CEB will invest around Rs 1.2 billion over the next 3 years for the undergrounding of some 150 kms of its low voltage distribution lines to improve reliability of supply; and
• Sixth, CEB will install around 25,000 smart meters annually to pave the way for automatic metering and development of the smart grid.
164. As regards wastewater this Budget provides for the construction of sewerage facilities to connect 7,800 more buildings and residences to the system.