The responsibility in alleged pollution from neighbouring factories at La Tour-Koenig has been avidly discussed over the past weeks as cases of inhabitants suspected to be suffering from poor health as a consequence have been reported. But the story goes back to at least four years and is the result of a decision to allow a planning clearance. Though the authorities are now stressing that it is of no use to point at past errors or miscalculations, it remains interesting to see how things did happen. Meanwhile, a series of decisions to find solutions should be taken by Thursday.

Those from the side of the Compagnie mauricienne de textile (CMT), the alleged polluter, have been relatively discreet. Yet François Woo, the director, expressed his opinion on Radio One: ?We had taken measures from the beginning to protect the people. There was a buffer zone that had to be respected from the part of the housing developer (NHDC).?

In a correspondence dated August 25th 2003 addressed by the Ministry of Housing to the National Housing Development Company, a planning clearance for Pointe-aux-Sables A, B and C and La Cure was given for the building of residential blocks. In the original plans, the project would be exempt from any Environment Impact Assessment, being of high interest. But due to pressure from the Environment, it was decided that the developer would have to present an EIA report - But the construction of the blocks, including Tourelle and Coquillage, had already started - which was carried subsequently by Servansingh consultancy.

This EIA report, which among others, required a buffer zone of 10 metres between the nearest housing unit and the boundary wall of CMT and Super Construction that would be planted with fast-growing trees, was approved the Environment ministry on February 10th 2004. From that moment, there was little to do except go on with the project. Even if alternative sites had been identified and, as insists François Woo, CMT had written to the concerned authorities to protest against the project.

The municipality then gave its green light to the construction of a housing complex of 198 units on August 2nd 2006 with a development permit, while a building permit was given on November 11th 2006. If the buffer zone of 10 metres seems to have been respected, no fast-growing trees have ever been planted?

Since March 2007, more and more new residents have been confronted with respiratory problems, and in cases like that of the Athion family, medical evidence has supported the complications as resulting from ingestion of smoke coming from a factory boiler. Inhabitants have been protesting. And authorities subsequently reacted with a team from the Environment to test air quality and the conformity; then a team from the Health ministry has checked the health of inhabitants and a party from the Housing ministry lead a site visit on Wednesday.

After meeting the people and seeing by themselves the situation, the minister of Housing, Ashraf Dulull, and a team of technicians from different ministries have been discussing with the head of the CMT, François Woo. ?The health of the people would not be sacrificed in any way?, protested Ashraf Dulull. He declared that long-term solutions would be taken shortly. And within hours, a committee chaired by Sir Bhinod Bacha was set up to review the situation. A report from the Environment was submitted as results of other tests by researchers at the University of Mauritius and a Health survey are expected.

As it appears, the relocation either of the local residents or of the CMT activities seems out of question. Whatever the issue, it seems that completing procedures is not everything. While steps were being jumped over, the health of innocent people, including children, had at some point not been properly foreseen.

?We live with the impression that some are trying to find a scapegoat through the NHDC?, says Michel Reddi, of La Tourelle block and member of local Forces vives. As neither the buffer zone nor the projected tree plantation has been properly realized, Michel Reddi stands sceptical about the issue. ?We are eagerly waiting, but action tells more than words?.