The completion of the Birkirkara-Msida flood relief project has again been postponed by a few weeks and the tunnels will be operational by the end of this month, Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi said yesterday.

Launched in 2012, the €28 million EU-funded project consisting of 11 kilometres of tunnels will be able to handle heavy downpours the likes of which are normally experienced every five to 10 years.

Works were originally planned to be completed in September last year but a decision to expand further to include areas like Iklin, as well as the widening of the final part of the tunnel which exits at Ta’ Xbiex seafront, meant that the completion date was postponed several times.

During an on-site visit last September, project leader Carm Mifsud Borg told this newspaper the project would be fully operational by the end of last month. However, work fell behind again by a few weeks, this time due to some debris which was not completely cleared from the tunnel, architect Mifsud Borg said yesterday.

Works were originally planned to be completed in September last year

The project leader was speaking during the inauguration of a separate component of the flood relief project, meant to alleviate floods in Żabbar and Marsascala.

Works on this 3.2-kilometre tunnel which finishes at Għar id-Duħħan, along the Żonqor coast in Marsascala, had started in April 2013.

EU funds Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg (left) with Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi.

EU funds Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg said that not all the water would be flushed into the sea as each year up to 60,000 cubic metres would be pumped into valleys around Marsascala. On his part, Mr Mizzi announced that regular maintenance would be carried out by government employees.

He urged the public to dispose of plastic bags in the correct manner, saying there were early signs that some storm water culverts were being clogged through illegal dumping.

Apart from the Birkirkara and Żabbar components, the project also includes other tunnels and canals to alleviate floods in Żebbuġ, Marsa and Qormi. This part of the project was completed last July.