Council, ministry in collaboration agreement

The Xghajra local council and the Ministry for Investment, Industry and Information Technology have reached an agreement to collaborate over the challenges posed by the sewage purification plant and SmartCity Malta to the Xghajra community.

Minister Austin Gatt said that through the agreement the government and the council were applying the corporate social responsibility principle, whereby the government and investors would together work towards softening the impact of the projects on the community.

He said the effect of the two projects was enormous and they would change Xghajra's profile completely. The dumping of untreated sewage and pollution from industry in the sea would stop, the value of property in the area would appreciate and there would be more job opportunities and recreational space created.

Dr Gatt also had words of praise for the council for the maturity shown during consultations.

Xghajra mayor Anthony Valvo said the consultations with the government helped turn into opportunities the challenges presented by these two projects.

They resulted in a commitment by the government to a number of initiatives in IT, education and the infrastructure.