Thinking back on how green were the valleys

While I enjoyed reading Charles J. Boffa's Wied Babu And The Surrounding Area - A Translation In Time (April 12), I thought how beautiful and fragile such an enviroment is and how vigilant the government of the day should be to save it from being devoured by unscrupulous developers whose interest is only to make more money.

Already part of Il-Munqar was encroached on by development some years ago, losing its tranquillity and natural beauty forever. Wied Fulija, where as children we used to go looking for honey, was turned into a waste heap, causing many children living nearby to suffer from asthma.

The belvedere along the road to Wied iż-Zurrieq, overlooking Wied Babu, was questioned by environ-mentalists. Some thought it should have been built as a rubble wall to complement the surroundings. But politicians know best!

I particularly enjoyed the article as it brought back memories of my childhood when, along with many other children, we roamed these places and played for many long hours to our hearts' delight.

From time to time we read about Wied Babu and its importance as regards the flora and fauna found there. Also, we need to know more about its history as regards the footpaths and stone steps (which are still crying out for some urgent repairs) together with a large well. Farmers must have worked the soil at the bottom many years ago.

In short, Wied Babu is in a very dilapidated state and the authorities should see to its restoration. But like the Żurrieq Armeria which is not far away, these important landmarks are falling to pieces without anyone raising an eyebrow!

Shouldn't the NGOs and the local council - let alone the relevant authorities - concern themselves about these places being dilapidated? Wied Babu was scheduled as Level 2 some years ago and it was being considered for Level 1.

But shouldn't then the damage caused by man and nature be repaired? And what kept the authorites from raising its status instead of letting it continue to be vandalised?

Past governments don't have much to be proud of where the environment is concerned. We should preserve the few remaining open spaces and beauty spots with urgency.

The NGOs should be thanked for creating an awareness about the environment in recent years. And we should also be appreciative of the EU regulations continuously being applied when the need arises. Otherwise, I don't know where we would have been! As it is we are still not adequately protected as regards the environment. Imagine then if we were not in the EU!

According to Marco Cremona (The Sunday Times, April 13), our groundwater resource is in a pitiful state.

The air we breathe, full of flying dust, is causing us, especially the children, asthma and other pulmonary ailments.

And to conclude, one cannot leave out our ridiculous regulations which should be brought up to date without any further delay. I cannot accept a permit granted for a pig farm only 20 metres from residences. Doesn't health supersede other policies?