An extensive project to avoid a repetition of the damage caused by last September's flooding is being undertaken both at Qormi and Burmarrad.
The valleys in the areas are being cleaned to ensure that the water can flow without hindrance.
Speaking during a visit to Qormi, Infrastructure and Resources Minister Ninu Zammit said the first step was to determine the cause of damage during the flood.
"It was found that the areas most prone to flooding were from Manuel Dimech Street - the Marsa catchment - to Xatt il-Mollijiet near Cassar Shipyard," he said.
While going through this course in the September 15 flood, the water encountered a number of obstacles and structures that were in the way for that volume of water.
The minister added that a plan to modify these structures so that they would not hinder the water in similar storms was drawn up and work to widen various watercourses commenced. He said particular attention was given to the watercourse, which passes between Nylon Knitting and the Lowenbrau factory and goes on to Aldo Moro Avenue.
The work, which started last month, includes the building of a number of bridges, widening of other watercourses and the pulling down of constructions, which hindered the flow of the water. Bottleneck areas, which were a hindrance to the flow of water, are also being addressed to ensure that the cross section is 20 metres square throughout the course.
The minister said the second phase of the project would include a structural intervention in the Aldo Moro area up to Xatt il-Mollijiet and there is also a plan to widen water openings under Aldo Moro road as well as those under the road in Xatt il-Mollijiet.
Mr Zammit said most of the work would be finished before the coming winter. However, he said, this target depended on two important factors - the natural elements and electric cables passing through the area.
He said there were no estimates about the final cost of the project. He said government employees were doing the work and the necessary material came from the government's quarry but everything depended on what was encountered as the project was executed. He said that since work in tourist areas was, where possible, not carried out in summer, the focus would be on the valleys.
The minister said that part of the project was a delicate one as there were a number of Enemalta cables in the area. The cables were being identified and, where necessary, diverted.
With regard to the work at Burmarrad, Mr Zammit said some people who had fields in the area had reclaimed land within the valley, making it their own, blocking the watercourse and causing flooding.
He said September's flood cleared the watercourse from any debris and now the government was building embankments on the sides so that the watercourse would again start serving its purposes. The minister said the work would not affect the structure of the new road.