By approving the routes hazardous waste from the Delimara power station will follow, the government was breaking the law, undermining the work of local councils and going against the interests of residents, the Labour spokesman for local government, Stefan Buontempo said.

Mr Buontempo said the routes were established without consulting the respective councils.

However, reacting to the comments, the Finance Ministry said the proposed route that would be followed for the disposal of waste from the power station, which was made public by Enemalta as part of the application for the IPPC (integrated pollution prevention control) was “part of the whole public consultation process that includes the local councils”. A traffic impact assessment was being carried out on the proposed route, the ministry said, adding that, as with any other public consultation, the route would only be implemented, or amended, subject to acceptance by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Mr Buontempo said the toxic waste would be carried along the main roads of Marsaxlokk, Għaxaq, Żejtun, Tarxien, Gudja and Birżebbuġa.

He said the law clearly obliged the authorities to inform and, where necessary, consult on decisions that impacted residents and the councils directly and indirectly. This meant, he added, the government was not observing the laws agreed upon in Parliament in the interest of the Maltese and that local councils were ignored on issues that affected public health.

The government’s “abusive behaviour” was a sign of its incompetence and arrogance and was unacceptable, Mr Buontempo insisted.