2 comments so far.$800,000 grant for eco-Gozo water conservation project
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The Coca-Cola Company, which is represented in Malta by the General Soft Drinks Co Ltd company, has awarded a grant of $800,000 (€560,000) through the Coca-Cola Foundation. The grant will be used on water irrigation through an eco-Gozo project to collect and treat over 4 million litres of rain water per year
The announcement was made at a conference with the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, together with the Minister for Resources and Rural Environment, George Pullicino, Ms Maria Micallef, General Manager of General Soft Drinks Co Ltd (GSD), Frederick Azzopardi, Parliamentary Assistant within the Ministry for Gozo and Mr Brian Mizzi, Managing Director of the General Soft Drinks Co.
The project will be managed by the International NGO Global Water Partnership (GWP) that is represented in Malta by Nature Trust Malta (NTM). More details about the project will be announced in the coming weeks.
Ms Micallef said that in March 2010 together with Mr. Stephen Bonnici, Human Resources Manager of GSD, who is also responsible for public relations and communication within the company, attended a workshop on water to discuss the project. It was here that the realisation took place that the objectives of the Coca-Cola Foundation’s were the same as the eco-Gozo project and so began the work that led to the obtaining of the grant.
The Minister for Gozo thanked Ms Micallef and the General Soft Drinks Company for the great commitment they have shown to Gozo.
The Minister went on to say, “Gozo is expected to increase the capacity of rainwater collected thanks to several projects being undertaken through the Action Plan 2010-2012 linked to eco-Gozo. These included the cleaning of valleys and the rebuilding of rubble walls in the Gozitan countryside.” The Minister continued, “other projects underway are the construction of 8 reservoirs through two other schemes issued by the Ministry for Gozo earlier this year for NGOs and Local Councils. There are also ongoing educational campaigns to raise awareness about better use of water, along with a number of other initiatives which will be announced soon.”
The Minister for Gozo concluded by saying that a number of eco-Gozo projects are being implemented in the different sectors of Gozitan life, such as the environment, which will help to enhance the economic, social and cultural identity of Gozo.”
Minister Debono, Why did it took you so long to do these useful things. Your government has been in power for over 22 years.
Can you imagine how many useful things would have happened if things like this have been done MUCH earlier.
ECO Gozo is a good idea but it must be professionally persued and pleasing to the eye.
Bridges must be reconstructed and blend with the surroundings (no precast planks please)
Valley beds cleaned by hand and not bull dozed.
Most water tracts such as the Qattara in S. Lawrenz and Wied Miljun in Qala -which ends up overlooking Mgarr Harbour must get a thorough clean up to hold rain water effectively.
Needless to say Marsalforn valley is neglected
And a follow up team to ascertain compliance and maintenance where due