PD deplores PA’s ineffectiveness, calls for the regeneration of Wied Qirda
Partit Demokratiku said that with good management and all round commitment from government entities particularly PA and ERA, nature will take over and Wied Qirda will heal itself.
Wied Qirda divides the confines of Haz-Zebbug and Siggiewi and is renowned for its spectacular rocky faced gorge lined with carob, olive, almond and bay laurel trees and for its picturesque wayside Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Visitation and a neighbouring Dejma post.
It is a Natural Reserve and a Special Area of Conservation of National importance which is also declared as a tree Protected Area. It is also the only habitat where Malta’s wild tulips (tulipani) thrive.
Unfortunately, Wied Qirda’s watercourse is being neglected and has been taken over by a mono-dominant plant due to human intervention that deters the features of a rural wied and disturbed its natural watercourse, PD said.
Partit Demokratiku said it took the PA to task for not taking timely and appropriate action against the ministry of infrastructure and other third parties.
It noted that following the completion of the National Flood Relief Project (2015) whose underground culverts from HazZebbug drain into Wied Qirda, the watercourse bed under the Siggiewi/Haz-Zebbug Road bridge was used for heavy vehicle transport and not only has this access not been returned to its original state, but has remained open to vehicle damage and in some parts has been paved with concrete.
Illegal dumping of goods and construction waste is prevalent. Worse still are a number of manmade obstructions to the water flow by the illegal dumping of terrain (rather than the building of bridges) to make access to private property across the valley. Recently, one such access was widened to include parking spaces and was surfaced by Transport Malta with tarmac, from EU funds earmarked for rural roads’ upgrade.
“Needless to say, a number of enforcement notices were issued (but were never followed up) by PA,” PD said, referring to a case flagged by this very newspaper earlier this week.
“PD demands that it is the Ministry of Environment’s duty to maintain, restore and enhance the habitat and characteristic rural features of our Maltese and Gozitan valley systems. Partit Demokratiku, the third voice in Parliament, will continue to safeguard the real environmental and economic interests of the country, and will continue to do its duty and scrutinise in favour of good governance.”