The polluter does not always pay

One of the duties of Mepa is to protect the health of the people. I am living among bakers in Qormi, of which several heavily pollute our direct environment causing health hazards to my family and myself.

Since March last year, I have filed several police reports against these polluters but no action has been taken. I have approached the Health Department in Żebbuġ but no action was taken. I have called several times Mepa's so-called hotline but no Mepa employee ever managed to arrive on site in time to visit the bakeries. If ever, the visits occurred when the bakers were not working.

For three weeks I have been waiting for action to be taken by Mepa. Even if the oven is off, it is easy to verify what the bakers were burning by scratching particles from inside the chimney or outside of it and analysing them. Wardens stop cars emitting excessive fumes and fine the drivers but Mepa does not stop and fine polluters; it even supports them by taking no action.

Mepa should be renamed the Malta Environment Destruction Agency because that is the only job it is excelling at.