Reform yields efficiency in Infrastructure Ministry

A reform of the departments falling under the Ministry of Resources and the Infrastructure had raised productivity and efficiency, with less being spent on overtime, works and material, minister Ninu Zammit said in Parliament.

Replying to various points raised during the budget debate on his ministry, Mr Zammit said the ministry was training apprentices in various trades, including construction and restoration. Efforts to source EU funds for restoration were continuing, but it had to be borne in mind that Malta had joined the Union in the middle of the latter's budget, which meant that there were limits as to how much money was available. Malta was now preparing a list of requests under the new EU budget.

An analysis had been carried out on the state of the bastions and what was needed to restore them, with the cost for the study borne under the Italian financial protocol. A request for funds for this purpose would be submitted to the EU.

He said the perceived reduction in funding for restoration could be explained by the fact that while most of the work for the rehabilitation committees used to be done by private contractors, it was now being done more cheaply by government employees.

On the restoration of St Catherine of Siena Church in Valletta, Mr Zammit said a fresh funding allocation was needed for the rehabilitation of the interior. But there was also a lot of restoration work to done in many places.

A proposal for the rehabilitation of Castille Place had been shelved.

The Mosta square project had been entrusted to the local council with an annual injection of Lm20,000 from the government.

Mr Zammit said a restructuring of the departments falling under his ministry had been very successful and there was now greater efficiency and flexibility, with every worker, irrespective of grade, giving an honest day's work.

The Malta Resources Authority was doing a lot of sterling work, in spite of the adverse comments made about it. The pity was that it was not given the publicity that its efforts deserved.

One major challenge it faced was the impending liberalisation of fuel oil imports.

As for the energy policy, studies were being undertaken on the feasibility of linking up to the power grid in Sicily or for the conversion of the power stations to liquid natural gas.

On renewable energy sources Mr Zammit said this sector was replete with problems, not least the issues of space, noise and cost. The government, however, was committed to exploring alternative energy sources and this budget included provisions for two way meters so that Enemalta would buy surplus power generated from photovolaics in private properties.

Mr Zammit said oil exploration was being given its due importance. There had been several presentations in 2005 to companies which may be interested in oil exploration and licences had been granted for exploration.

Talks were still ongoing with neighbouring countries on the delineation of the continental shelf.

Mr Zammit insisted that the surcharge on water and electricity bills was imposed on the basis of fuel oil prices on the international market and the burden had been apportioned in the fairest way possible among all sectors of society.

Speaking on the construction industry, Mr Zammit said the Building Industry Consultative Council had drawn up a report on the demolition of buildings near existing ones and the salient points would be included in new building regulations.

The minister underlined the work being done by the Public Cleansing Department to clean up the countryside. Some 13,000 tonnes of waste disposed of in an abusive manner had been collected at a cost of Lm400,000.

Thirteen kilometres of valleys were cleaned and more than 450 tonnes of waste were collected. Some of the valleys had not been cleaned for years. In summer the department reached an agreement with the MTA to clean tourism areas.

A lot of work was also made in the area of flood relief, the focus being particularly on the stretch from Wied il-Kbir to Marsa and from Salina to Burmarrad.

For on the former included the widening of 1,600 metres of the watercourse which was now well under way. Works on a 1.5km watercourse from Salina was planned to start in February and March.

Work would then continue for the collection of rain water in Birkirkara and the surrounding villages. Big underground reservoirs would be required.

A substantial amount of restoration work was carried out all over the island including the water aqueducts, the Palace in Valletta, sections of St John's Co Cathedral, Hastings Garden, where work was still under way, and village cores.

Although funds were limited, embellishment works had also been undertaken in various tourist areas and important landmarks.

The ministry was also involved in setting up or converting premises to accommodate illegal immigrants.

The road from Luqa to Valletta was upgraded.

For 2006 there was an intensive programme of restoration of historic and public gardens including the library in Valletta at Lija square.

Mr Zammit said the paving project of Mdina had fallen back both because of the discovery of archaeological remains but also because one out of every seven tiles imported for the paving had been rejected.

Nationalist MP Joe Falzon welcomed the fact that the budget included incentives to promote the use of alternative energy sources. It also allocated funds for research and innovation.

He said that Mepa should now ensure that large projects also included provision for energy saving or the use of alternative energy. He suggested that initiatives related to the transformation of waste to energy were also being taken.

He praised the ministry's workers for the valley clearance works and embellishment works being carried out in different parts of Malta.

He hoped that the people would realise the integrated work being carried out by this ministry, the Environment ministry and the Malta Resources Authority for a better, more sustainable environment.