Drainage contractor deprives 30,000 homes of electricity

A private contractor who on Wednesday afternoon was digging up the university ring road to carry out drainage works for the new hospital damaged a number of power cables and a water main, Enemalta said in a statement yesterday.

The corporation said it would be taking all the necessary steps, including legal action, to obtain compensation from the contractor for the damages it has sustained, including the additional costs, amounting to thousands of liri, it incurred due to faults which led to extensive power interruptions.

The power cuts affected especially the central and southern parts of Malta including parts of Valletta, Paola, Fgura, Sliema, Msida, Gzira, Paceville, St Julians, Bahar ic-Caghaq, Mosta and Attard. Some 30,000 households were affected by the power interruptions due to the damage caused by the contractor, the corporation said.

The damage caused to a water main close to the power cables has made Enemalta's repair effort more difficult.

Some time ago, in the same ring road, the same contractor had caused considerable damage to the infrastructure that belongs to the Water Services and Enemalta corporations. Considerable damage was also caused to the cables that belonged to other organisations involved in telecommunications.

Enemalta chairman Tancred Tabone said: "It is a shame that repeated instances of negligence on the part of contractors is costing the country thousands of liri in addition to the inconvenience for the residents, and the owners of commercial establishments especially in summer".

Enemalta said it took steps to bring the electricity service back to normal. On Wednesday, this was accomplished in most of the affected localities by late afternoon and in certain areas this was achieved in the evening.

In order to carry on with repairs, the electricity service was yesterday suspended in various localities such as Sliema, St Julians, Paceville, Msida, Gzira and Birkirkara.