Curbing environmental abuse

It is always good news to hear that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority started removing cars and other material from 11 scrapyards in Gozo.

These yards are all illegal and one wonders why the authorities did not take steps against those responsible for all those years. The arrogance of some people may be one of the reasons.

The same could be said about the illegal quarries at Siggiewi, which were only recently closed. The removal of oil drums and rusty domestic appliances from rubble walls is also a very commendable decision.

It seems that in Malta it is the practice to leave all alone until it is very difficult to cope with the problem if not through hard labour and much expense.

Today, we take pride to see the embellishment of our towns and villages by the local councils, but why haven't they yet taken the responsibility to stop people throwing their scrap and rubbish in every disused field or building plot?

The local councils, together with the police and wardens, should make an effort to keep the towns and villages and their environs as clean as possible, and reprimand severely those who are caught throwing their rubbish away in open spaces.