Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1174220
19 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 6 OCTOBER 2019 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Malta's underwater heritage on Nat Geo ON Monday, 7th October, a global audience will enjoy a number of un- derwater cultural heritage sites around Malta and Gozo in the renowned TV series 'Buried Secrets of WWII', thanks to Heritage Malta's latest collaboration with the prestigious National Geo- graphic Channel. Episode 6 – Island Under Siege – will uncover interest- ing narratives that took place in 1940 when Axis powers attacked Malta. The setting up of the Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU) within Heritage Malta, meant that for the very first time, a department was specifi- cally responsible to identify a number of underwater sites so that these could be studied, protected and made acces- sible to all in a controlled and managed way. UCHU was heavily involved in the production of this episode, and was fundamental in its contribution of the underwater sequences which make the episode more intriguing. The establishment of underwater ar- chaeological parks around the Maltese Islands will be beneficial in a number of ways, primarily by enhancing the protection of the islands' unparallelled and precious underwater cultural resources. Moreover, the creation of new sites that can be visited by divers or through virtual reality programmes, will provide added value to the diving tourism package. It is envisaged that the Maltese Islands will become a mar- ket leader in the field of deep-water wreck diving. National Geographic's productions are in line with UCHU's outreach cam- paign at informing the general public about the importance of the underwa- ter cultural heritage. By teaming up with National Geographic, Heritage Malta has facilitated the sharing of Malta's cultural heritage with an inter- national audience. Fiona Vella, Heritage Malta Illegal extraction of water THE sister Island of Gozo is appar- ently a Republic and not part of the Maltese islands. Everybody here does everything with impunity. It seems that law and order stops at Cirkewwa. The police are either incumbent or most often turning a blind eye to culprits who are breaking the law flagrantly in broad daylight. This is happening often and with total impunity and regardless of authority. A recent case concerns the great damage being done to the aquifer in Gozo. People are stealing water from subsoil by means of a pipe at Ghajn Lukin, Victoria on the way to San Anard street. Bowsers of water are being filled all time, extracting ground- water from the subsoil to be sold to consumers and nobody cares and the authorities, who have been frequently warmed of this illegal and abusive manner in which the water is being extracted without any form of licence from the competent authorities, re- main passive. This in spite of the fact that our water resources are very lim- ited and that these culprits are causing irreparable harm to the water table. I appeal to the competent authori- ties to take action before it is too late. Mother nature deserves to be pro- tected. Joseph Bajada, Via email