Information gaps in Għadira road project

I refer to the recent news about the proposed new Għadira road to replace the present one. I am not going into the merit of which is the best solution to this issue; I leave that to the experts. What I'm not convinced of is the way this whole thing is being tackled by the government.

Last week, we were informed by Austin Gatt himself that the plans were not backed by any studies and yet he intends to apply for EU funds for the project by January. Am I missing something here? May I remind readers that the area is a highly environmentally sensitive one and yet, in practically a month, an extensive study has to be carried out to decide the future of the area?

One species that comes to my mind is the Giant Orchid, an extremely rare plant here in Malta with individual plants being found in a few garigue areas. One such area is the garigue just behind the Għadira Nature Reserve and exactly where the new road is intended to be constructed.

This species alone is enough to necessitate a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment, let alone the whole bio-diversity of such an important ecological area. And yet the government is in a haste to apply for the funds by next January.

I agree that the erosion of the beach has to be controlled somehow but we shouldn't rush things and risk doing further damage to the natural environment.

The way the authorities are insisting on this new road while knowing that no study whatsoever has been carried out, does not convince me at all about the real aim of the whole project.