A petition against illegal encroachments on public land has been launched by three environmental NGOs who accuse the government of turning a blind eye to blatant abuses.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth and the Ramblers’ Association contend that the abuses constitute a “social, environmental and economic injustice” and ask the Prime Minister to take immediate action.
FAA cited illegal encroachment by kiosks, bars, restaurants and beach concessions as examples of abuse.
This newspaper yesterday revealed there has been a drastic drop in direct enforcement action by the Land Department since the Labour Party came to power.
From information tabled in Parliament it transpired that the number of enforcements carried out in an entire year was lower than the number done in a single month under the previous government.
According to a government spokesman, the department had very limited human and financial resources, with only five enforcement officers. He added that the department was trying to achieve as much as possible through voluntary compliance.
Asked for his reaction, Environment Minister Leo Brincat yesterday said the Land Department did not fall under his remit.
In a brief reply, he said the setting up of the Environment and Resource Authority, as part of the plan to split the planning authority into two entities, would enable the government to improve compliance. As a result, there would be less need to resort to enforcement action, he argued.
Contacted by this newspaper, FAA coordinator Astrid Vella said they had been flagging up the lack of enforcement for some time to the point that they felt the need to launch a petition.
“Illegal encroachment amounts to theft but our politicians are still treating the perpetrators with kid gloves, rewarding the abuser and encouraging more abuse,” Ms Vella said. The only effective deterrent was to issue cumulative fines, she added.
She said the organisation had received complaints of beach concessions extending beyond the authorised footprint as well as kiosks, bars and restaurants illegally encroaching on promenades.
In addition, no action had been taken to dismantle illegal structures in ecological areas like San Blas, Golden Sands, and l-Aħrax on the outskirts of Mellieħa, some of which had been there for decades.
Ms Vella reiterated the group’s objection to the proposed fast-tracking of planning applications, raising concerns this would dismantle existing safeguards against abuse.
“This would be an insult to every law-abiding citizen in Malta and Gozo.”
A Ramblers Association spokesman echoed these views, remarking that the approach being taken by the authorities raised concerns.
“The message they are conveying is of a hidden policy meant to appease as many people as possible, to the detriment of the public interest,” the spokesman said.