The planning authority has ordered the Works Department to ensure pollution at Qawra bay does not get worse after construction debris on a quay turned its water milky white.
Repair works on the quay, which had been damaged by a storm in winter, started earlier this week but were stopped by Mepa when the debris spilled into the bay.
A planning authority spokesman said: “After yesterday’s incident, the authority stopped works on site and has requested the applicant to submit further preventive measures to the method statement to prevent spillages and any possible diffusion of suspended particles during the remaining works.”
The issue was highlighted after The Times sent pictures of the spill to Mepa on Tuesday, which, in turn, sent enforcement officers to the site.
The photos show a trail of construction debris in the sea in front of the Suncrest Hotel lido.
Architect Janice Borg, responsible for the government project, said the construction works as per approved method statement started in the past few days after talks with the local council.
She said that a planning application for “repair works to the slipways, adjoining quays and hard standing areas at Qawra was originally filed in December 2009”. The permit was approved and issued a year later.
During the processing of the permit, the marine section was asked to submit additional information, including a construction method statement, she said. The method statement was approved by the authority and a commencement notice was submitted on February 7.
Last August, the council and Mepa clashed after a mound of silt was dumped at sea further up from the quay.
The debris was then excavated back from the sea and taken to a site on land following an outcry from bathers and residents.
The planning authority had blamed the council, accusing it of acting illegally without the necessary authorisation.
On its part, the council said Mepa had ordered that the silt should be thrown back into the sea and that the area in question was the only available space where that could happen.