The Gżira local council has called on the government and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to solve the flooding problem in the coastal town.

Mayor Chris Bonett said the problem had been getting worse year after year, especially due to the various developments in Għomor Valley, which blocked the watercourse.

Addressing a press conference on the Gżira seafront, organised by the council’s Labour representatives, Dr Bonett called on the government to act on the various plans it had made to solve the flooding in the problem areas. Flooding in Gżira was worse than that in Msida and Birkirkara, he said, adding that the council had been calling for action for at least six years but nothing was ever done about it except for plans and sketches.

The first thing to do, he said, was rebuild the culverts at The Strand because water reaching Gżira from other localities was flooding roads rather than making its way to the sea. The culverts were blocked by rubbish that accumulated over the years and also by the roots of trees along the seafront.

Dr Bonett said the situation in Gżira was so bad that residents sometimes could not even go to work due to the flooding, apart from the damage to houses and cars.

The council tried to restore the culverts and solve the blockage but could not do much more because its finances were limited.

Referring to the construction of a road linking the Kappara roundabout to Tignè, Dr Bonett said this had been on the cards for at least 10 years and nothing had ever been done about it. Last year, a storm water relief project was submitted to Mepa but, even in this case, no decision had been taken.

He appealed to the government to act on its plans and see to the flooding problem in Gżira before the rain season started.