Birkirkara resident seeks insurance against damage to 'L-Infetti' niche

The owner of an antique niche in Birkirkara yesterday claimed there was some danger to it being damaged by construction works in its immediate vicinity and called on the authorities to bind the person carrying out the work to build foundations to the niche and have the work covered by an insurance policy.

Vincent Parnis filed a judicial protest in the Civil Court against Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino, the chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the Director of Museums, and the mayor of Birkirkara.

Parnis declared that he owned an antique niche, known as "In-Nicca ta' L-Infetti", in Mriehel Road, Birkirkara.

This historical and artistic monument had been built by his ancestors in 1814 in honour of the residents of Birkirkara who died in the plague of 1813 and were buried in the neighbouring cemetery.

The monument was a listed edifice and was included in the Preservation and Conservation List of Town Planning for its historical value as it was the prime example of the most beautiful such monument in the country.

Parnis claimed that on May 24 a bulldozer had dug up part of the road, and that a one-foot-deep hole had been excavated at the rear foundations of the niche.

On May 26, Parnis had filed a report with MEPA and he was informed that the works, being conducted in a public road, were taking place in virtue of permits which covered an extension to the house behind the niche.

However, Parnis claimed that no notice of the application for a permit had been affixed to the site.

Parnis added that it had rained heavily on May 28 and the hole behind the niche had filled with water which had penetrated to the foundations, causing it to suffer structural damage.

Parnis claimed no official of the Antiquities Department working at MEPA had been informed of the works, for they would have insisted on an insurance policy being issued in respect of the niche.

The permit issued was for a house extension but Parnis said he had good reason to believe that the extension included the construction of a swimming pool.

He claimed the failure on the part of respondents to order the permit holder to repair the damage to the niche could constitute a serious precedent for the issue of permits in the vicinity of historical monuments.

The state was duty bound to protect the historical and artistic heritage of the country.

Parnis called on respondents to issue an enforcement notice so as to oblige the applicant to provide an insurance guarantee in respect of the niche.

The applicant was also to be ordered to construct foundations to protect the niche.