Opposition spokesman for Sustainable Development Charles Buhagiar said in Parliament on Monday that certain environmental problems in various parts of Malta were an obstacle to sustainable development. The damage that ensued was the result of development without control or planning.
Higher buildings should be allowed in new areas, but not in village cores where small houses are being overshadowed by huge blocks
Certain areas flooded on account of the ways development permits had been issued. Valleys such as those of Msida and Birkirkara were no longer valleys but roads which carried traffic… and water.
The government had proposed a project, which had been heard about for years, to somewhat alleviate flooding problems at a cost of €56 million from EU funds.
Even the sustainability of such projects was doubtful as regards sustainability. The truth was that the EU funds for the project had not been applied for because first there needed to be Mepa permits, which did not exist.
Before such a massive project as the tunnels was launched, the infrastructure had to be enhanced. But the only infrastructure came from nature: most of the valleys were in a pitiable state and their holding capacity had been depleted or erased completely.
The culverts on the roads could not function properly because of lack of maintenance. Their catchment was mostly blocked. First they needed to be given maintenance, and only then could a multi-million-euro project be launched.
Well-maintained culverts could ultimately affect the size of tunnels needed, said Mr Buhagiar, adding that the government had done nothing to improve the infrastructure already available.
It was being said that part of the rainwater in the tunnels could be hygienically reused. But in Birkirkara and Msida most of the water coming from Naxxar and Lija was contaminated with sewage. The risk of contamination was not being considered in the project. This was a third-world situation. Where was sustainable development?
Sewage overflowed because of many reasons, including overflows from roofs because no wells were being insisted on, even in new buildings. How was the situation going to be addressed?
Malta was one of countries with least rainfall, classified as an arid country, with most potable water coming from reverse osmosis.
The country was in a vicious circle of getting water from the sea, treating it through expensive RO, pumping it into homes which threw quite an amount of it into sewage, treating it and sending it back into the sea. This meant literally throwing money into the sea.
Mr Buhagiar insisted that treated water must be reused.
Changing tack, he said the quality of life of residents in localities in the centre of Malta was being very badly affected by huge increases in traffic and emissions at peak hours. For years there had been talk of a national traffic management plan, which had also not materialised.
Mepa should have seen such issues coming when it considered permits. Not even ring roads promised in new projects had been made. The thirst for development could be checked only by the government.
Parking problems were atrocious. Open areas had been given for parking instead of the people’s enjoyment. These problems must be tackled because they affected business too, especially in the centres.
Mr Buhagiar said there was no regulation of traffic anywhere, with large trucks going through very small residential roads not built for them.
Unregulated development with Mepa was also affecting the centre of Malta. The authority was permitting savage development and destruction of large gardens which used to be the major characteristics of village cores. Higher buildings should be allowed in new areas, but not in village cores where small houses were being overshadowed by huge blocks.
One thing Mepa should do was to physically visit sites for which development permits were sought.
Mr Buhagiar asked who was monitoring the waste being thrown into quarries in inhabited areas earmarked for construction debris.
The Bill was not addressing the issue of what was being permitted, he concluded.