The Opposition today called for more transparency from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority on the illegal scrapyard Ta Gasparel, in the limits of Birzebbuga.

This scrapyard, which was opened in 1993, is situated 300 metres away from Borg in-Nadur and Ghar Dalam, spokesmen Leo Brincat and Roderick Galdes said.

They said that although an enforcement order on the scrapyard was issued in 2009, Mepa still received a report that the yard was being illegally used.

They said that the environmental organisation Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar had also supplied evidence that the site was still in use. Even if it was not in use, the material was still on site, blotting the environment.

Mr Brincat said sources told him that in one particular year, when the yard was still in operation, the company had over declared a million kilos of material.

He called for verification as to whether there was a link between Godfrey Cutajar, one of the owners and the recent Transport Malta court case. It was alleged in court that Mr Cutajar would accept cheques in return for fictitious sales of scrap metal, cash them and give the money to two men working for a contracting company.