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Marsascala waste recycling plant saga (1)

Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Too much ado has been made by George Pullicino and WasteServ over the monitoring of air quality around the Sant’Antnin valley where the controversial recycling plant is being housed.

This was one of the conditions laid down by Mepa after the continuous pressure by the committee against the plant: that residents should be part of this monitoring board and also be consulted prior to its setting up.

Through incessant demands by the committee, the waste management strategy was changed and instead of dumping all the refuse generated on the island, 250,000 tonnes per annum, in Marsascala, one-third – 71,000 tonnes per annum – will be processed at the Sant’Antnin plant. Two more plants are earmarked; one in Gozo and a much larger one in Għallis costing €45 million that will probably take the heaviest chunk of waste.

What’s farcical and somewhat bemusing is that in the initial site selection exercise being compared to Sant’ Antnin site, among other excuses the Għallis site was listed as being far too small. The prolonged emphasis by the Prime Minister and Resources Minister George Pullicino over the decision taken by the council to appoint an expert to monitor air quality seems rather a coincidence since it was approved half heartedly only a week ago due to lack of consultation.

Now that the plant is fully operational, receiving 35,000 tonnes of organic waste and 36,000 tonnes of dry recyclables, such monitoring was envisaged to start immediately with the blessing of this obnoxious industry a stone’s throw away from residential areas.

The mayor of Marsascala should have made it clear with Minister Pullicino and WasteServ that this monitoring unit under no circumstances should serve as a screen to alienate residents from the real and basic issue, that of the socio-economic studies which incorporate a health study, study on pests such as rodents and insects and above all noise emitting from the plant during the night. These important studies stipulated by Mepa in the terms of reference were never carried out for they were “too expensive”, as stated in public by WasteServ’s foreign consultant. Residents are still waiting for personal guarantees from Mr Pullicino and WasteServ that the plant would not create odours at the boundaries and against any possible future adverse health effects on residents.

The minister should know very well the reason why the Marsascala local council has, since 2005, filed legal proceedings in the Maltese law courts and appeals before the Mepa board, for the European Commission does not have any powers over member states regarding location of such plants and public consultation; it limits itself to the European Community law.

The parody by the Resources Minister, accompanying young students around the plant, is a complete circus. Shabbiness could be seen everywhere. Residents have reacted strongly and turned their backs to Mr Pullicino’s invitation.

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Theresienne Debono

Dec 1st 2010, 22:12

Mr C.Debono should refrain from being a wishy-washy dreamer and fac the facts right in the face. We in Malrsascala all know that when the NP Government takes a decision to railroad a project, it will do this come hell and high water. Today we must all be realists and realize that the Recycling Plant has come to stay. Quite righty the LP refuses to commit itself that if it is elected it will dismantle the project because now it is physically and financially impossible to do so.

The one sensible policy to follow is to press the Government to accept our representatives on the monitoring board. Thanks to Mayor Calleja's subtle political acumen we now have that representative. The hard fact is that Mr Joe Sant cannot stomach this achievement and his envy is getting the better of him.

For once, he shopuld forget his tarnished ego and accept that our Council has entered the citadel and now is in a position to monitor the whole process and correct it where and when necessary. Thank you Mayor Calleja for not missing the wood for the tree of personal ambition.

Ray Fenech

Dec 2nd 2010, 10:15

The resienne Debono tidher li assolutament ma segwit xejn fuq il-kontroversja tal-impjant. Qed timplika din is-sinjura li hija xi ‘achievement’ kbir tas-Sindku Calleja. Halli nfakkrek ftit. L-ewwel darba li smajt b'dan il-‘monitoring board’ kien fil-famuza laqgha taht it-tinda ta’ Grabiel fl-2004. Kien il-Ministru G. Pullicino li kien kontinwament taht attakk li biex jevita l-kritika qawwija li kienet qed issirlu qal li l-Gvern kien se jaghmel Board biex jimmoniterja l-arja u li r-residenti kien se jkollhom rapprezentant. Forsi dakinhar is-Sinjura Debono ftit li xejn kienet taghti kas il-kwistjoni tal-impjant! Calleja ma nafx fejn kien dak iz-zmien! Is-Sindku kien is-sur Charlot Mifsud. Ikolli nghid li s-Sinjura Debono hija qrib hafna tas-Sindku Calleja. Ara jappuntakx xi konsulent tal-Kunsill, tghidx kemm nimxu 'l quddiem.

C. Gauci

Dec 1st 2010, 20:03

Ikun zball kbir min-naha tas-Sindku ta’ Marsaskala Calleja, jekk jipprova jilghab mas-sahha tar-residenti. Il-moniteragg tal-arja huwa tajjeb li jsir, izda m'ghandu x'jaqsam xejn mal-istudju dwar il-kontroll tal-mard li jista’ johloq u jingarr mill-grieden, nemus, dubbien u nsetti ohra li mpjant taz-zibel ta’ dak il-kobor jista’ jikkrea, specjalment f'dik iz-zona. Jien kont qrajt bid-dettal r-rapport tal-Kummissjoni dwar l-Ambjent tal-Knisja, rapport indipendenti li jghid car li dan l-istudju li kellu jsir ma sarx. Kien VROMA! Jidher li l-FRONT Kontra l-Impjant ghandu aktar dokumenti u provi li juri li dan ma sarx. Il-Monitoring board m'ghandux iservi ta 'smokescreen' biex permezz tieghu nahbu dan kollu. Ninkoraggixxi lill-FRONT li ghandu jibqa’ jinsisti dwar dan il-punt li ghalina huma krucjali; jghid x'jghid Calleja u l-Kunsill tieghu. Nissugerixxi lill-T. Debono terga' taqra l-ittra tal-FRONT ghax mid-dehra ma fehmet assolutament xejn. Dan id-diskors smajtu min hadd iehor qrib is-Sindku. Kellu bzonn ghandu l-integrita u l-onesta li ghandu s-sur Joe Sant.

j. cachia

Dec 2nd 2010, 04:59

Only fools reason this way. I am a PN supporter, I signed the petition and I am dead set against the way the plant was given the permit. So you mean to tell me that I should vote the PL?

JM. Borg

Dec 2nd 2010, 08:10

Mela qed tistenna telfa c.camilleri? Il-kumment tieghek huwa banali u jwegga’ lill-istess Nazzjonalisti ghax anke jien ghandi dritt ma naqbilx mal-impjant taz-zibel li nbena go wied protett tefgha ta’ gebla l-boghod mill-abitat.

A. Saliba

Dec 2nd 2010, 08:57

The comedians are those partisans who through their disregards towards the people of Marsascala whether they are PL or PN supporters make senseless remarks towards a man that today is criticizing a Council with PL majority for trying to play, 'il doppio cioco". In fact Anthony Grech is so politically blind that he is offending the thousands of PN voters that condemned the process, the arrogance in which this government dump this waste factory with all the repercussions that might inflict on us residents of Marsascala.

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