The work is being carried out by government workers and is estimated to cost over Lm1 million, of which the EU funded Lm450,000 from the Solidarity funds – applied for by the government after last year’s floods.

The widening of this watercourse is part of a larger strategy of work that should help avoid the flooding problems seen last year in the Qormi and Marsa areas. The Minister explained that for the work to be effective, a number of surrounding valleys had to be cleaned up simultaneously, otherwise the mud from these valleys would end up in the Marsa valley and create a bottleneck. Some of these valleys have not been cleaned for thirty years, the minister said, among them there is Wied il-Kbir, Wied ic-Cawsli, Wied il-Qirda, Wied Xkora and Wied L’Isqof.

Some 600 metres of the Canal next to the Marsa Sports Club leading to Aldo Moro Street have been cleaned up and widened. The work included the removal of tonnes of soil and other material and some large trees were removed and then planted further up in the area.

The new retaining walls – of which some 400 metres have been built – are erected in the traditional sloping style.

The inclined embankments, the minister explained, besides being more functional are more pleasing aesthetically.

The bed of the canal will be laid with concrete to help the water flow through faster and also allow maintenance.

In this connection the minister explained that there were also plans to dredge the seabed at Jetties’ Wharf where the water exits, an exercise that will improve the flow of the water.

The canal between the Lowenbrau brewery and the Nylon Knitting factory totalling some 200 metres was ready.

Work should now begin on the reconstruction of a number of bridges that had been obstructing the water’s flow.

The Minister congratulated the workers for the level of their work and their safe work practice.

He said that the Works Division had recently invested Lm22,000 in protective equipment for the workers, adding that the health and safety department had conducted more than 60 inspections on construction sites, and given 38 lectures for which 700 employees attended.