‘Are You Waiting For Somebody To Be Killed?!‘: Msida Residents’ Woes Worsen As Rainwater Adds To Ongoing Sewage Problem
As if the sewage problem which has plagued Msida Skatepark for years wasn’t enough, the already dire situation has been made a tenfold worse following yesterday night’s downpour.
“Due to the rain, the Skatepark tunnels are completely flooded with rainwater and sewage and it is impossible to cross to the Swatar side”, a concerned resident told Lovin Malta, adding that they had to cross the densely trafficked main road in front of the University in heavy rain.
Msida resident Joanna* had already aired out her frustrations on the matter earlier this week, explaining her concern at the constant inaction by the authorities, despite her reports to the Water Services (WSC), the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), the Msida Local Council, and Planning Authority (PA); detailing that residents have been “swimming in the sewage” for a week and hoping that at least one entity can help.
“You are risking the health of the people crossing regularly in sewage,” she exclaimed, urging authorities to wake up and do something about the problem before it is too late. “Are you waiting for somebody to be killed in a traffic accident?”
View this post on Instagram
The Msida resident held that the situation is all the more concerning since the subway is the only way for pedestrians to cross the street, considering that above it there is a roundabout without zebra crossings.
“If it is so difficult to sort out the pipes and drainages, why are we not provided with a safe alternative crossing option?”
Last night, Joanna took to a popular Facebook group to warn fellow locals of the situation, advising that they avoid Skatepark. “If you report the problem to water services and local council, nothing happens,” she added, sharing photos of the raw sewage and floodwater around the area on social media and urging other residents to also report the issue in the hopes of something eventually happening.
This issue has emerged in the midst of a new scholastic year – a cocktail of dense Maltese traffic in an area populated by University of Malta students. With the area’s roads and sewage systems evidently lacking the necessary infrastructure required and the incoming rainy season already kicking off this week, the whole thing is quickly devolving into a recipe for disaster.
*The names in this story have been changed.
Have you ever encountered a similar issue in Msida or your own locality?