Marsa council protests over harmful emissions

The Mayor and the Executive Secretary of Marsa council have filed a judicial protest against MEPA and the Prime Minister calling on them to stop harmful emissions in the Spencer Hill area of Marsa - the scene of recent protests over bad odours at Hexagon House.

The Mayor, Francis Debono, and the secretary, Adrian Attard, said they had been receiving complaints from residents and workers for years.

In November 2000, MEPA said it was monitoring the situation, adding that odour filters consisting of charcoal cartridges, had been attached to each of the six process tanks (the MOBC oil tanks located on Spencer Hill).

The Mayor said the problem had persisted, however, and the council had continued to complain to MEPA.

Following an on-site inspection in February 2006, the MEPA officer in charge said he found no irregularity.

But the council still continued to receive protests and in 2008, after the Office of the Prime Minister was contacted, it was concluded that the odours and emissions were coming from MOBC and it was said that the Authority was acting to remedy the situation.

The Mayor and the Secretary said MEPA had failed to take serious consideration of the complaints and the residents and workers were therefore exposing themselves to health dangers.

They called on the Prime Minister and MEPA to take the required action to safeguard the health of the residents and the workers.