The chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority yesterday admitted that enforcement of rules related to the construction industry is weak and needs to be "addressed aggressively".

Speaking during a conference organised yesterday by Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil as part of his STOPthedust! campaign, Mepa chairman Austin Walker said enforcement would be tackled aggressively in the upcoming reform of the authority.

The conference discussed air quality and dust emissions. The debate on construction-related dust was sparked off by Dr Busuttil earlier this month when, following complaints he received about a construction plant in Naxxar from residents living nearby, he raised the issue on a national level.

Medical experts, environmental activists and construction industry representatives attending the conference were divided into two camps on the issue of enforcement. One side called for decisive action to curb abuse and negligence by contractors and developers, while the other side maintained that enforcement could be counter-productive and advocated positive initiatives which would encourage developers and contractors to clean up their act.

Opening the conference, Dr Busuttil recalled that the European Commission recently informed Malta that it was not following EU regulations on air quality. He emphasised that, four years after having joined the EU, Malta was still nowhere near the required standards on air quality and dust emissions, stressing that the rights of residents and citizens need to be respected. Medical specialist Stephen Montfort said dust emissions are affecting not only those already prone to respiratory problems (such as asthma) but also normally healthy individuals.

Referring to a 2005 dust emissions study, Prof. Montfort said that in the top four months of activity, dust emission from quarries is 115 times higher than acceptable levels. Over a whole year, this translates into dust emission levels approximately 37 times higher than the limit allowed.

Despite agreement that dust emission is a national problem and that the health implications are serious and have to be addressed, opinions varied on what is the most significant source of dust emissions.

Angelo Xuereb, representing the Federation of Building Contractors, insisted that the main source of the dust is soil originating from agricultural fields which gathers in roads. Maltese roads, he said, are not properly equipped with gutters for rainwater and soil carried by rainwater gathers in cracks and potholes. When it dries, the soil is thrown up by road vehicles as fine dust, which leads to dust particles accumulating in the air. He admitted, however, that the construction industry also contributes to the poor air quality of the country.

John Ebejer, chairman of the Building Industry Consultative Council, said the present situation was the result of the success of past efforts which encouraged demolition and redevelopment of existing buildings to make efficient use of land and protect green areas.

Representatives of residents, environmental organisations and health experts maintained that the construction industry was among the primary contributors of dust emissions.

There was consensus between the stakeholders present on the need for Mepa's construction site regulations to be extended to include all sites and not only those of a certain size, which Mr Xuereb said excluded 95 per cent of them.

There was also general praise for the spirit of mutual respect and open dialogue in which the conference was conducted.