Gzira flooding problem 'worse than Msida' - Mayor

Flooding problems at Gzira have now become more serious than those at Msida and Birkirkara, and urgent government action is needed, Gzira Mayor Chris Bonett said today.

He said that the problem was especially serious in the strand area from Gzira Road.

He said that whenever it raised heavily, people had their homes flooded and they could not even leave home because of the torrent outside. Cars were sometimes dragged away by the flood waters.

Mayor Chris Bonett said that whereas in he past, Wied Ghollieqa used to absorb the water which flowed down from Naxxar, San Gwann and Sliema, development, which included Mater Dei Hospital, the national pool and St Monica School, had reduced the surface area of the valley.

To make matters worse, culverts at Gzira were now too small to handle the waters. Some culverts under Ta Xbiex garden had collapsed, and others were blocked by roots.

The council, he said, had tried to clear some culverts and also started building a new one, but it lacked the funds to do more.

He said the first call for government assistance was made 10 years ago, to no avail.

The council had also been promised that the problem would be solved with the building of the new Kappara to Tigne' Road, but this project had only seen foot-dragging.

"The people of Gzira have had enough. It is unacceptable that people have to leave their homes because they fear for their safety when it rains, " Dr Bonett said.