Schoolchildren question minister on the environment

Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino got down to discussing the environment with schoolchildren today, and the subjects that were raised were not always what he liked to hear.

One schoolgirl complained about the extension of a hotel on public land in Ghadira and another complained about over-development and the need for regular clean-ups.

During the activity, held in Mosta by BirdLife, Mr Pullicino said the government would spend €7 million to restore the Salina salt pans and rebuild the huts there.

Work on a new park in Delimara would start in October, he said. Work would also be taken in hand on a new family park in Marsascala which would be six times bigger than the Ta' Qali adventure park..

He also highlighted the clean-ups made at Chadwick Lakes and the Salina water channel, pointing out in the latter case that it took his ministry's officials almost three years to convince Mepa and some environment NGOs that the work would not cause any damage.