communities. As a result, a project expected to be completed in 2009, was still
outstanding in 2018 (von Schnitzler 2018).
In Mauritius, illegal connections to services (electricity), or bypassing water
meters exist, the latter mainly by large users (agriculture, industries), the justification
advanced being that the bills would increase the cost of production as to prevent
competition for their products.
In Rodrigues (there are no water meters), where consumers receive water regularly, although not necessarily daily, have devised their arrangements of underground tanks and pumps to receive water within their homes on a 24/7 service. A
meter programme was initiated to help the people start reading their own meters so
that they would understand and appreciate how much water they, in fact, consumed.
Eventually, the residents removed all the meters, as a museum piece, because they
complained that the meters were acting as an obstacle to water flow in their pipes!
When you appreciate that the charge, per household, for water in Rodrigues is Rs.22
annually (Rs.40 ¼ 1 Euro, approximately), it is easily understood why the public or
the media do not have much sympathy when people protest about water tariffs, etc.,
in many countries.
One thing is clear, however. Infrastructure improvement may come or be
attempted with the best of intentions. Unless, communications, negotiations, information campaigns are carried out, failure may well result for the whole programme.
7.8.5 Projects and Promises
Harvey (2018) mentions a new road project being enthusiastically supported by
many different stakeholders, be it neighbouring countries or different towns. Expectations were that trade would increase, either internally or abroad, more tourist trade,
etc. Nobody could contest the possibility of the new interconnections, the desire of
an easier life, a little less precarious, a little less exhausting.
Although the Ministry of Transport would finance the road, critics argued that the
economic justification was poor, that it was a political project, strategically designed
to show an effect of political consensus, and that the regional government was
wasting money on a project where costs were likely to significantly exceed benefits.
At the local level, the promise of a road was highly regarded, even in the absence
of any methodical examination of the potential benefits. The project took form
around a promise of moving forward quickly from the past into the future. In
particular, billboards displayed pictures of before and after, also shown on websites,
and in PowerPoint presentations at all public gatherings. Glossy new trucks and even
sporting cars were depicted. The future was to be both fast moving and gleaming.
Another road, in contrast did not show any of these apparent benefits. However,
this short 10-kilometre road, already “under construction” for the past 70 years, had
suffered several delays due to ongoing litigation, and people considered it would
take a similar lapse of time before construction would be completed, given other
problems, such as corruption accusations, labour disputes, social disturbances, etc.
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7 Economic and Social Aspects of Infrastructure
outstanding in 2018 (von Schnitzler 2018).
In Mauritius, illegal connections to services (electricity), or bypassing water
meters exist, the latter mainly by large users (agriculture, industries), the justification
advanced being that the bills would increase the cost of production as to prevent
competition for their products.
In Rodrigues (there are no water meters), where consumers receive water regularly, although not necessarily daily, have devised their arrangements of underground tanks and pumps to receive water within their homes on a 24/7 service. A
meter programme was initiated to help the people start reading their own meters so
that they would understand and appreciate how much water they, in fact, consumed.
Eventually, the residents removed all the meters, as a museum piece, because they
complained that the meters were acting as an obstacle to water flow in their pipes!
When you appreciate that the charge, per household, for water in Rodrigues is Rs.22
annually (Rs.40 ¼ 1 Euro, approximately), it is easily understood why the public or
the media do not have much sympathy when people protest about water tariffs, etc.,
in many countries.
One thing is clear, however. Infrastructure improvement may come or be
attempted with the best of intentions. Unless, communications, negotiations, information campaigns are carried out, failure may well result for the whole programme.
7.8.5 Projects and Promises
Harvey (2018) mentions a new road project being enthusiastically supported by
many different stakeholders, be it neighbouring countries or different towns. Expectations were that trade would increase, either internally or abroad, more tourist trade,
etc. Nobody could contest the possibility of the new interconnections, the desire of
an easier life, a little less precarious, a little less exhausting.
Although the Ministry of Transport would finance the road, critics argued that the
economic justification was poor, that it was a political project, strategically designed
to show an effect of political consensus, and that the regional government was
wasting money on a project where costs were likely to significantly exceed benefits.
At the local level, the promise of a road was highly regarded, even in the absence
of any methodical examination of the potential benefits. The project took form
around a promise of moving forward quickly from the past into the future. In
particular, billboards displayed pictures of before and after, also shown on websites,
and in PowerPoint presentations at all public gatherings. Glossy new trucks and even
sporting cars were depicted. The future was to be both fast moving and gleaming.
Another road, in contrast did not show any of these apparent benefits. However,
this short 10-kilometre road, already “under construction” for the past 70 years, had
suffered several delays due to ongoing litigation, and people considered it would
take a similar lapse of time before construction would be completed, given other
problems, such as corruption accusations, labour disputes, social disturbances, etc.
206
7 Economic and Social Aspects of Infrastructure