The programme of cleaning of valleys and water dams around Gozo which was started in the summer last year has been continuing through this summer. This programme, the Ministry for Gozo said, is being implemented as proposed in the eco-Gozo action plan 2010-2012. Last year, 4 water catchment areas in two valleys,Wied ta’ Zejta and Marsalforn Valley were cleaned.

The Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono and the Parliamentary Assistant within the Minsitry for Gozo, Frederick Azzopardi recently visited the Ramla Valley works. “In the first days of work, around 360 trucks of material were removed so that this main valley, which includes 3 water catchment areas, will have the possibility to store more rain water,” the Ministry said.

The Minister for Gozo said that the “cleaning and maintenance programme of water catchment areas is an extensive project which is contributing in meeting high standards of sustainable development in Gozo. Through this project, the facilities to store rain water during the winter months will be increased and thus less water will be lost at sea.” The Minister continued, “that such cleaning is also beneficial to the agricultural sector and thus farmers will exert less pressure on the water-table. Water is a main resource for the government’s initiative to turn this island into an ecological island and is instrumental to meet the objectives for a sustainable future.”

In the last days work has also resumed in another part of Marsalforn Valley, the Ministry said, “which is found between Victoria and Marsalforn bay. Around 160 trucks of soil and other material has been collected up till now. Material that is being collected from these valleys are being transported to Qortin ta’ Isopu, limits of Nadur, where this site, once a quarry, will be transformed into an ecological restoration project and in the planting of trees.”

This valley cleaning programme is spread over three years and for this year’s programme includes also the cleaning of other valleys in Gozo, those of Wied tal-Ghasri and Wied tal-Kapuccini.

The Ministry said that “all precautions are being taken so that during works, no damage is caused to the environment. Works are being coordinated by the Ministry for Gozo under the supervision of the Department for Environment Protection within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. This project has the potential to help in the increase of water storage in natural environment, thus increasing the potential of volume water to be seeped through the rocks in order to improve the quality of water table.”

Other projects related to the conservation of water are being implemented in Gozo. These include the building of 8 water reservoirs by Non Governmental Organisations and Local Councils through 2 schemes issued by the Ministry for Gozo earlier this year; the restoration of reservoirs in government property and building of new reservoirs in a number of projects in Gozo, the Ministry concluded.

Permalink: Clean up continues on Gozo’s valleys & water catchments