The Minister for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo, recently visited Wied l-Infern, in Zebbug and Wied tal-Barumbara, in Ghajnsielem where an operation of extensive cleaning is being undertaken in preparation for the first heavy storms. The aim is to save water which had prviously been lost and to put it to other uses, including for the benefit of farmers, the Minister said.

He added that these valleys had not been cleared during 2012 and he praised the employees within eco-Gozo for this initiative, who accompanied him on the visits and explained the cleaning process.

As in previous years, the good soil recovered from the cleaning of valleys will be utilised for afforestation and other projects, the Minister said.

“Apart from the recovery of the soil, another benefit to cleaning the valleys, is that the water stored is then utilised by the farmers to irrigate their crops, which eliminates water extraction from boreholes. At the same time some of the water will go down, increasing groundwater storage,” the Minister said.

“That is why the Ministry for Gozo undertook the restoration of rubble walls along the Ramla Valley through the Alter Aqua project funded under the Global Water Partnership,” the Minister concluded.

Permalink: Gozo valleys being cleaned in preparations for the first storms