Nationalist MP George Pullicino expressed concern in parliament this evening that cow manure is to be treated in just one plant - in Maghtab - when the former government had been planning three facilities.

He said the government's decision contrasted with what used to be said by Labour spokesmen in the past.

The consequence of the decision, he said, would mean that some 400 trucks of manure would be driven through Maghtab every two weeks. The former government had also planned to have treatment plants in Gozo and Qrendi, along with Maghtab.

Speaking during the debate on the budget of the Water Services Corporation, Mr Pullicino asked what would happen regarding the treatment of pigs' manure, while pointing to the concerns that such manure was being used as slurry in fields, with obvious health risks.

He also referred to comments by minister Konrad Mizzi that the WSC was planning more water polishing plants for the treatment of sewage water which could be used in agriculture, and asked if the government was planning a distribution network. 

WSC'S GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY GOING UP

Mr Pullicino said that while the government claimed that operational costs of the WSC were going down, the government's subsidy would actually rise by some €3.2m to over €13.7m.

The corporation's salary bill was going up by €800,000, with very generous pay packets for the directors and promotions to people close to the PL.