Three environmental organisations yesterday called on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to prevent a valley in Qala being ruined for good by developers.

The Ramblers' Association, Friends of the Earth and Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar expressed concern that Mepa would issue permits for "two very controversial applications for developments in the Ta' Marga valley".

One of the projects involves the construction of a block of apartments with basement garages while the other is for five houses with a swimming pool.

The NGOs' concern stems from the fact that the Mepa directorate had originally recommended approval for the first application.

The NGOs said these private projects risked ruining the hydrologic, ecologic and scenic elements of Qala valley and fell mainly outside the development zone.

The NGOs pointed out that, in August 2008, the Qala council had commissioned hydrologist Marco Cremona to carry out an assessment of the hydrological impact on the valley.

He found that developments would create an obstacle to both the surface and the subsurface flow of water.

They would intercept the flow of the watercourse systems in the valley, reducing the water storage of the shallow wells lying downstream, to the detriment of 29 farmers.

These findings were backed up by another independent report commissioned by Mepa.

The three NGOs said they trusted that, on Tuesday, the Development Control Commission board would make a rational decision and give due importance to expert advice rather than prima facie assumptions.

"We strongly urge Mepa to take its role as guardian of the natural and cultural heritage seriously in the national interest. Decisions that favour controversial applications in favour of private interests to the detriment of the public interest only confirm the general perception, or rather conviction, that Mepa is an unaccountable entity that acts above the law," they said.