Updated: Sewage odours drive MCAST IME staff out of lecture rooms

(MCAST's comments added)

The Malta Union of Teachers has directed academic staff at the MCAST Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IME) not to hold lectures in rooms which have been affected by drainage/sewage problems.

The union said that unless the lecturers are given alternative rooms where to conduct their lectures, they are to stay in their staff room.

MUT President John Bencini said sewage problems in the building have caused strong odours which are unhealthy and inconvenient.

The union complained about the problem a few days ago but nothing had happened, Mr Bencini said.

But MCAST said it has incessantly reported this matter to the relevant authorities and carried out all the necessary precautions within its remit, including the relocation of lectures to another location when necessary in the best interests of the students of the college and its staff.

It said the sewage problems and the odours did not have their source within the MCAST premises but seemed to originate from an industrial operation being carried out at the adjacent industrial estate.

The main sewage system at the industrial estate passed within MCAST's perimeters, precisely under the Mechanical Engineering Institute.

It said it has, in the past, insisted and continued to insist with the relevant and responsible authorities, to rectify this matter without further delay.

MCAST said the MUT never brought up this matter with the authorities at the college. It would have been more appropriate had the union consulted the authorities at MCAST prior to issuing its directive so that the college would have informed it of the actions taken.