THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT
SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS:
HEAD OF PUBLIC INSFRASTRUCTURE
Mr Sobhanand JEETUN
HEAD OF PUBLIC INSFRASTRUCTURE
Mr Sobhanand JEETUN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Mrs Smita BOOLAKY
The Public Infrastructure Department is responsible, amongst others, for the following main services:-
– Construction and maintenance of urban roads;
– Construction and repair of surface water drains;
– Construction, care, maintenance and improve- ment of public lighting in the towns, gardens/green spaces; including motorways & main roads;
– Maintenance of traffic signs and roadmarking, in- cluding name plates on urban roads;
– Repairs and maintenance of fleet of municipal ve- hicles and plants;
– Processing of building permits and morcellement applications;
– Design and implement infrastructural projects related to buildings, roads, bridges, drains, pave- ments, lighting, playgrounds, sports grounds, social halls, traffic centres, markets, fairs, crematoriums, exhibition halls, art galleries, public libraries etc;
– Maintenance of infrastructural assets of the Council.
– Construction and maintenance of roads.
As per road hierarchy, the existing roads in a town are classified as follows:-
(i).motorways and main roads
(ii). urban roads
(iii). private roads
Item (i) is under the jurisdiction of the Road Devel- opment Authority, as they are of national strategic importance.
By 1925, this was accepted and the members re- signed. Emile Pitot was named as President with René Maigrot, Honourable Rajcoomar Gujadhur, Dr. Ferriere, Octave Adam and André Sauzier as Members. In 1927, the Town consisted of what is known es- sentially as old Curepipe, with an area of 1,753 ar- pents or 739 hectares.
In 1960, the Town was further extended to include the area of Floréal which was developed following large-scale, morcellement, of lands belonging to the sugar estate, Réunion Ltd and Government Land north of La Brasserie Road. The extended area to- talled approximatively 977 arpents or 412 hectares. In 1963, some 772 arpents or 326 hectares made up of the village Council Area of Engrais Martial, Couvent de Lorettte, Eau Coulée and Mangalkhan/ Riviere Sèche were further added to the township, increasing its population by 11,000.
In late 1968, Late Sir Gaetan Duval, QC, became the first Mayor of Curepipe.
The Municipal Council then consisted of 16 members.
With the extension of boundary limits, the township area increased from 3502 arpents (1478 hectares) to 5660 arpents (2390 hectares) or by 61.6%. The population increase, however, was only 6,962, or
10.6%.
In the 1980s, numerous new businesses were es- tablished in the textile, jewellery and model-ship- making areas. This resulted in susbstantial popula- tion growth, as many residents of the south moved towards the jobs in Curepipe.
A FEW LANDMARKS OF CUREPIPE
THE WAR MEMORIAL
At the gate of the Royal College of Curepipe is one of the most famous statue of the island, the War Memorial, with the inscription “To the Glorious memory of Mauritians who in the Great War gave their lives for the cause of Freedom and Justice’’.
Every year, a Remembrance Day Parade is held at the monument, in the presence of senior Govern- ment officials and survivors of the World War II ; 1939-1945
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY
Built in 1920, the library is a gift from the famous “Carnegie Institute’’ of the United States. There are about seventy five thousands documents. There is also a unique collection of manuscripts relating the history of the Mascareignes. A friendly personnel is always ready to help researchers
THE BOTANICAL GARDENS
In 1913, the central Government gave some 27 acres of land to the ‘’Board of Commissioners” to create the Botanical Gardens. The Board built a magnificent garden by providing for as many rare trees as possible.
MOTTO AND COAT OF ARMS
COAT OF ARMS
The shield of the Arms of Curepipe is divided hori- zontally into two parts, the upper part being about one third and the lower part two thirds of the area of the shield. The field or background of the latter is divided into six wavy divisions flowing horizontally across the shield and coloured alternatively white and blue which is intended to represent the marshy site on which the town was built and placed there- on is a spring of azalea leaves and flowers all gold recalling that the site of the town was once a field of azaleas.
In the upper part of the shield termed in heraldry ‘a chief’ is depicted a green mount or hill in allusion to the well-known Trou-aux-Cerfs crater, and this is ensigned of a blue eradicated mullet or star in- troduced not only for geographical significance but also to provide a sense of elevation as conveyed by the motto.
‘’Excelsus Splendeo” (Exalted I Shine) is, in tradi- tional fashion, displays upon a scroll placed below the shield itself.
