About 9,000 tons of rubble, soil and rubbish were removed from eight valleys and four water reservoirs around Malta earlier this year.

The summer clean-up cleared the passageways of valleys in Rabat, Żebbuġ and Siġġiewi and water reservoirs in Mġarr, Baħrija, Santa Luċija and Għaxaq, Resources Minister George Pullicino said yesterday.

Standing in a valley in Siġġiewi, Mr Pullicino said workers from the ministry’s cleansing department collected about eight tons of soil that was redistributed among farmers.

However, they also collected a lot of rubbish, which had been dumped illegally in the valleys and which could have been disposed of easily at civic amenity sites or through the bulky refuse service, he said.

“I am disappointed that people still throw tyres, sofas, mattresses and tanks in the countryside given the services that are available,” he said, appealing for public cooperation.

It was important that valley passageways remained clear to allow water to flow through and not accumulate and flood, causing damage, he said.

The clean-up operation included rebuilding and repairing rubble walls.

Mr Pullicino pointed out that the press conference on the clean-up had been scheduled before the freak storm hit Malta on Monday, causing floods and damage.

“We will soon release details about the flood relief project that will increase our potential water storage to 700,000 cubic metres from 300,000,” he said.

People still mistakenly thought that the project would allow rainwater to flow to sea, Mr Pullicino added.

The Resources Ministry and Transport Malta will repair roads and pavements damaged by the storms. Workers have been removing stones from roads over the past two days.