Labour MP Marlene Farrugia said the government’s enivronmental policy seemed to lead to nowhere, with the delay in splitting Mepa’s planning and environment directorates serving for rife abuse by developers.

She said the outside development zone (ODZ) policy, established in 2006, compromised the natural habitat but one had to decide on how much land should be excluded from construction.

The government was more focused on cleaner energy, which had been neglected under the PN adminsitration.

She complained that a time frame for operating the gas power station had not yet been given.Dr Farrugia said the government launched the new ODZ policy without first putting a national water plan and an agriculture policy in place.

Mepa split delay allows rife abuse

The environment should remain topmost when considering new building permits and she criticised the proposed development of the Pace Grasso ground in Paola, saying it should be turned into a public park instead.

She also called on the government to move fish farms away from the coastline to protect Malta’s shores from pollution.

Dr Farrugia spoke on the possibility of an underground railway, using EU funds, to help solve traffic congestion.

The public transport problem resulted from the lack of reliability of the service with people having to use their private vehicles to arrive at work on time.