Petition on dust pollution

Last week, I presented to the President of the European Parliament a petition on behalf of 1,200 residents from Malta and Gozo asking him to take the necessary measures "to ensure that EU law and EU standards on air quality are duly upheld in Malta".

I have now been closely following complaints about dust pollution in Malta, notably construction dust, for the past four years or so. And I honestly do not see sufficient progress by the public administration on this front. This is why I felt the time had come to raise this issue directly at EU level. Nor is mine the only complaint on air quality.

The issue of the "mysterious" black dust has already been raised by my colleague, Louis Grech, whereas, only last Sunday, The Sunday Times reported Siġġiewi deputy mayor Karol Aquilina speaking out, yet again, on behalf of irate Siġġiewi residents who cannot stand "living in a cloud of dust" any longer.

Residents complain of dust pollution generated by uncontrolled construction activities during building works and from unsupervised operation of construction plants.

Residents feel that, for far too long, the construction industry has been left free to do as it pleases under the dubious pretext that regulating this sector could somehow pose a threat to economic activity.

The inconvenience caused to residents, especially elderly residents, is much greater than one would think.

Living day-in-day-out next to a construction plant, which emits noise and dust incessantly, is not just a health hazard. It also often causes tension and severe distress.

Construction building projects, which last for a number of years, cause similar misery and health hazards. Sliema residents know a thing or two about this. But they are not alone.

This is quite apart from widespread reports of material damage to adjacent property as well as the eyesore construction plants become in the surrounding landscape.

Residents are right to be concerned and their complaints are justified.

Indeed, the European Commission has already established that Malta exceeds the limits laid down in EU law on air quality, including on dust particles. In one petition filed by a resident of Lija, the Commission admitted that, based on official data provided by the Maltese authorities themselves, it transpired that the particulate matter (PM10) in the area of Lija exceeded EU limits and was, therefore, in breach of EU law. Now there is evidence that suggests that the breach of the limits exists also in several other localities in Malta and Gozo.

Although some progress has been registered, it is still far from sufficient.

Mepa has been making the right noises and has demonstrated a willingness to see to this. It is proposing an Air Quality Plan for the Maltese Islands in accordance with EU law, which will outline policy measures to address man-made pollution sources, generated by, among others, the construction industry. But the fact that this plan is long overdue points to insufficient priority being given to this issue.

Mepa has also been promising to regulate the environmental impact of construction plants. But these rules are not yet in place, let alone enforced.

I am sure the Administration is committed to do what is necessary, but action has been too slow and it is clear that this issue has not yet been given sufficient political priority. This must change because, all the while, dust pollution continues unabated and the hazard to public health remains high.

My petition raises this serious issue at the instance of EU institutions to seek to rectify the situation as soon as possible. EU laws on air quality must be adequately observed and dust emissions from the construction industry and building sites must be better controlled in the interests of the right of residents to live in a peaceful and safe environment without health hazards.

The petition will lead to an investigation by the European Commission on air quality in Malta, in particular on the presence of dust particles in the air. The Commission will be asked to report about its findings to the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament. Since I am a member of this committee, I will, of course, be following these findings very closely.

Depending on these findings and the response from the Maltese authorities, the next steps would need to be identified and these could include infringement proceedings against Malta.

It is not pleasant to have to press for infringement proceedings against one's own country but if that is what it takes to improve air quality in Malta, I will have no hesitation in doing so.

If you want to add your voice, sign up to the petition on www.stopthedust.org.

www.simonbusuttil.eu

Dr Busuttil is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.