Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1107757
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 APRIL 2019 JAMES DEBONO THE Gozo Ministry's plans to reconstruct a 19th century aq- ueduct have left the national heritage watchdog baffled. "The surviving monument has architectural, historic and aesthetic value as a historical ruin and no clear justifica- tion has been received for the proposed extension and the building of new tracts," the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage said in its reaction to the application. Plans foresee the dismantling and reconstruction of the sur- viving tracts of the aqueduct, as well as the construction of the lost tracts. Plans also fore- see the construction of a walk- way, the paving of an existing access road and the recon- struction of water culverts. But the application was sus- pended following negative feedback from the Superin- tendence for Cultural Herit- age and the Environment and Resources Authority. According to the superin- tendence, no clear justifica- tions, including scientific and structural studies, have been submitted for what it has de- scribed as "a drastic and im- pactful intervention". In the absence of an "over- riding reason" as to why "the aesthetic value supersedes the other values", the intervention "should focus on the consoli- dation of the existing parts of the monument". The Environment and Re- sources Authority, while agreeing with the restoration of the historical landmark, expressed concern that the proposal will result in the formalisation of the site, due to the introduction of gravel surfacing, the formalisation of the rural access way and the introduction of light in the countryside through the pro- posed decorative uplighters on the aqueduct. The aqueduct, known as 'tal-Ħammimiet', suffered ex- tensive damages after whole stretches of it collapsed, with the last collapse coming as a result of storms in the 1980s. Work on the aqueduct's con- struction, spreading over two kilometres, began in 1840. It was designed by the British to carry potable water from Għolja ta' Għar, limits of Santa Luċija to Rabat where a fountain was inaugurated in 1843. NEWS YOUR VOICE Fight against cancer & diabetes Safeguarding rights of businesses & consumers Protection of whistleblowers & media FRANCIS ZAMMIT DIMECH Fighting injustice Banning single-use plastic & mobile roaming charges Easier access to EU funds ROBERTA METSOLA Drastic increase in rights for parents & carers Fight against corruption Protection of journalists DAVID CASA www.eppgroup.eu Plan to rebuild Gozo aqueduct hits a snag The aqueduct was designed by the British to carry potable water from Santa Lucija to Rabat where a fountain was inaugurated in 1843