Five projects have been launched, including one in Gozo, which will have better systems created for the conservation and management of rainwater.

These projects will be carried out in the localities of Ghajnsielem, Paola, Mosta, and Marsaskala.

This was announced by Minister for Public Works Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi together with Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds Chris Bonett.

The total of funds allocated for these projects is over €2 million and they will be partially financed by European funds, through the LIFE programme.

The Energy and Water Agency will be in charge of coordinating the LIFE RBMP programme, while the Public Works Department will be in charge of planning and implementing a rainwater infrastructure.

The Minister explained that these projects will be focusing primarily on the sustainability and conservation of ground water as there will be better water storage in the valleys, in gardens and open spaces.

He added that this water will available for use by farmers for watering fruit trees and vegetables and at the same time flooding in the streets will be avoided.

The Minister went on to say that through this investment, open spaces will be given a better look, will be more sustainable and will be able to be used better by the public.

In Ghajnsielem, the Amabile Cauchi Garden will be modernised and an underground reservoir will be built to store water for irrigation. In addition, boreholes will be dug where rainwater will be collected from the roads, to avoid flooding in the area.

Also in Ghajnsielem, in Wied Simirat, the water barriers (dams) will be cleaned of waste and soil that has accumulated In addition, invasive species will be removed and endemic trees will be planted in their place.

The other projects include a garden in Paola, which will be named after former Member of Parliament Silvio Parnis. It will be restored in a sustainable way, in collaboration with the Local Council.

A reservoir will be built to store rainwater for watering the trees and plants in the garden. The garden will also have equipment that can be used by children and an outdoor gym. With the aim of more people practising sport, part of the project will include a basketball court.

In Mosta, at Wied Ghajn Mula, in collaboration with Project Green, the restoration of the valley will take place – it will be cleaned of silt and native trees and shrubs suitable for the valley will be planted, with invasive ones removed. In total around 200 trees will be planted. In addition, demolished rubble walls will be rebuilt.

Finally Marsaskala – Wied il-Ghajn, in collaboration with Project Green, cleaning will be done and invasive species will be removed. A total of 114 new trees of drought tolerant species will be planted. This while the rain water will be stored to be used by the farmers.

File photos: Ghajnsielem project

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