Front Harsien ODZ has welcomed Labour MP Marlene Farrugia’s decision to re-convene parliament’s environment committee to discuss the controversial site selection for the American University of Malta.

Dr Farrugia who chairs this parliamentary commitee and who has recently championed environmental causes, has informed the front she would be setting a date for the meeting.

The front had written to Dr Farrugia asking her to reconvene the committee in view of the commitment made during a meeting last June by Mepa CEO Johann Buttigieg.

Mr Buttigieg promised that he will present sites which were being considered for the location of the proposed development in an upcoming Parliamentary Environment Committee meeting.

Despite the commitment taken by the MEPA CEO, no such meeting was held before the Prime Minister announced that the government had chosen two sites, one within development zones in Cottonera and a site in Zonqor which still includes 18,000 square metres of ODZ land on land designated by the local plan as part of a national park.

Although the government has published a report which refers to all the sites considered by the MEPA CEO’s office, the report has not been submitted to the scrutiny of parliament and civil society.

“We will continue to insist on transparency and scrutiny and the publication of all agreements signed with Sadeen Group. We also reiterate our opposition to the inclusion of ODZ land in Zonqor. The project still has to go through a lengthy planning process and environmental studies. We will be demanding full scrutiny of the project at every stage of this process,” the front said in a statement.