Mains tap 'buried' by embellishment works

Nationalist councillors in Zurrieq are pointing fingers at their Labour counterparts over an essential water mains tap that was buried during embellishment works.

The issue came to light yesterday afternoon when council workers needed to close the mains tap in the village square because of a water leak in the piazza which was revamped a year ago. They could not do so as the tap had been buried beneath a newly built pavement. It was finally detected by Water Services Corporation employees.

PN councillors Melvyn Mangion and Mario Ellul said water had been leaking since 9 a.m. because council workers could not find the buried tap.

They criticised the "unfinished" square refurbishment claiming the work had been fast-tracked before Labour leader Alfred Sant visited the village in the run-up to local council elections a year ago.

"The project was estimated to cost Lm60,000 but the figure is now expected to rise to some Lm75,000. When he visited the project year ago, Dr Sant had said the project would be finished within 100 days and gave a mark of 91 per cent to the council.

"Today, the project is half-baked, and we think that Dr Sant should revise the mark he gave to the council," the PN councillors said.

Contacted by The Times, Zurrieq mayor Ignatius Farrugia said the council had reported the leak to the WSC, which had then found the buried tap.

He insisted that the project, which, he said, had been completed close to a year ago, had proceeded according to plans drawn up professionally by an architect.

"A water leak is an accident. It has nothing to do with the square's refurbishment," Mr Farrugia said.

He said the council had called the WSC as soon as the leak had been reported, insisting that no other water leak had occurred since the project was completed.

Mr Farrugia said it was "banal" that the PN councillors were clutching onto a burst water pipe to attack the council. "Today, half the village had no electricity, but I did not issue a press statement to attack Enemalta because I know accidents happen," he added.