It has become a consistent practice for the E. L. Consortium to send people to spray weed killer on a vast area of grassland in the area of Santa Margerita, Mosta, opposite Wied il-Għasel Valley. The once green, flowering fields surrounding our houses has turned into a yellow dry area with no grass, no flowers and even worse, everything else is now dead too. I am referring to all the small wildlife creatures that found refuge here. They are gone once and for all, because they were killed together with the grass. No longer do we see reptiles roaming here, vipers, hedgehogs, chameleons, butterflies, ladybirds and any type of insect.

It is a shame and a pity, to say the least, that such diversity has been eradicated. What for? Why can't we have some wild grass and flowers growing which used to make our environment so fresh and colourful. I used to feel so proud that we had this richness that isn't so common nowadays. It seems somebody's interest is to have this weeding process done systematically and nobody cares what is killed because of such practices against nature.

This practice started about two years ago and it was in vain that we tried to contact the previous mayor to explain the damage that is being done. The present mayor has not been very helpful either and this has been repeating itself under the new council too. The people who come spraying come dressed in protective clothing including gas masks. But we have to suffer the poisonous fumes, which are very toxic and an obvious health hazard. As far as I know this weeding is illegal because of the side effects on both nature and humans.

We have a right to enjoy a little patch of grass and all the insects, reptiles and other small animals that live in it, and these creatures have a right to exist too. How can anyone be so insensible and destroy such beauty? Why is our local council insensitive to such situations, which are also posing a health risk? The photos reveal some of the disgusting damage that is being done in the area. Who is responsible for it?