Plan to rebuild rubble walls in EU-funded programme

The Agriculture Ministry yesterday announced a scheme for the maintenance and renovation of traditional rubble walls which, besides being aesthetically pleasing, also protect soil from being carried away.

Minister Ninu Zammit said yesterday that for this aim a survey on the state of the country's rubble walls was being held.

He was speaking at Hal Far, at the site where one such wall, which will be dealt with under the scheme, lies in an alley that also has to be widened to make it accessible to machinery used by farmers.

Following the survey, the government would provide assistance of about E500,000 from the €3.2 million the EU was providing as pre-accession funds for the Rural Development Programme.

The programme will receive an additional €8 million of funding once the country joins the EU.

Two different rates of payments will be given under the scheme. Applicants will get Lm45 per qasba (4.4 square metres) for the rebuilding of rubble walls under the soil level and Lm35 per qasba for the rebuilding of walls above ground.

Mr Zammit said the Agriculture Ministry was committed to improve the quality of the rural environment, reducing soil and water loss through the maintenance of rubble walls as part of the Rural Development Plan.