Government considering scheme to promote use of wells - minister

The government is considering a scheme to help families take good care of their wells and install pumps, Resources Minister George Pullicino said this morning. He also said that the Employment and Training Corporation will soon be launching a course to teach people how to fix and maintain disused wells.

The minister was replying to questions by students of the Sta Clara College Primary School in San Gwann.

During the visit the students asked the minister for more open spaces, trees and flowers.

They wanted to know how they could save energy at their school and about the use of well in houses. They also took the minister round the garden where the school had a problem with its well, which the government is going to help it fix.

Mr Pullicino said that there was an ongoing project in San Gwann along Stefanotis Street where disused land was being turned into a 300-tree olive grove. Ninety residents have adopted a tree so far.

The minister said that discussions were underway with the Foundation for Tomorrow's Schools to slowly start changing lighting to energy saving. That would save schools about 40 per cent from the lighting bills.

He stressed that a lot of money could be saved through the installation of solar water heater, for which the government also provided assistance.

Parliament, he said, was also debating a bill for sustainable development which would see the appointment of a guardian to safeguard future generations.

He said that the past mistakes at Maghtab had already cost the country €9 million and another €24 million had to be spent to rectify them.