High voltage electric supply transformers located near residential areas, schools or public places can pose serious health hazards. The situation is getting worse day by day in Mauritius where construction  sites have mushroomed in areas where such transformers are found, according to many observers.


Leading scientists and researchers around the world who deal with health hazards associated with electric supply systems believe there is a need for an urgent rethinking on the presence of high voltage power lines near houses and schools.

A three-year study by the American National Council for Radiation Protection shows that there is clear evidence that living near an electricity line could be linked to fatal childhood diseases such as Leukaemia.
A draft major report  recommends firm restrictions at 0.2 microTesla, an indicative level of public concern.
A Japanese study by Saito et al published in The  Journal of Epidemiology 2009 reveals  an eleven-fold increase in brain tumours for children exposed to magnetic field.

However, Dr.Anil Mohit, Cancer Specialist at the Mauritian Ministry of Health says: “I am not aware of any studies done in Mauritius regarding the risks taken when exposed to power lines. I believe there have been many scientists who have investigated this probability in the UK and the US but I have nothing to say regarding the health of the nation when exposed to electromagnetic field (EMF) .”

Meanwhile, parents, teachers and students of  a State Secondary School
in Ebène are concerned  about the  risk they are likely to be exposed to because of  a high voltage power line that is found  right in front of the school.

The school management even expressed its fear to the authorities when the school was built  in 2003-2004.
“The President of the PTA asked about the safety of the students if exposed to these power lines at the time of construction but the contractors said that there would be no risk at all.

Yet several parents have expressed their concern regarding the threats of being exposed to the power line. The management at the time lodged a complaint to the Central Electricity Board (CEB), and people concerned came to the conclusion that it would cost too much to transfer the pylon elsewhere,” says an officer at the school.
The Chairman of the CEB, Patrick Assirvaden, says: “There are criteria to be respected before putting up an electric  pylon . I am not aware of any threats when people are exposed to these power lines on a long-run.”

Patrick was unable to give  information regarding the distance that needs to be respected when pylons are placed near houses and schools and other institutions.

“Before transferring any electric pylon, the CEB needs to seek advice from other authorities and the cost of transfer may vary between Rs 200, 000 and Rs 500, 000 depending on the distance. Before erecting any pylons, the CEB takes the safety measures into consideration. However, I am unable to comment on the health safety of people, regarding the risk of cancer when exposed to electromagnetic fields,” says the CEB officer.