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Labour Environment spokesman Leo Brincat has called for a budget for the new parliamentary select committee which will examine the problem of black dust in Fgura and its environs.

The government accepted the proposal, as well as another opposition proposal for the committee to be empowered to hold public hearings.

Mr Brincat, who was speaking in Parliament, said the Opposition did not want to politicise this issue, but it was shameful that the government had not tackled it with the urgency it deserved.

It now appeared that the government was trying to 'bury' this issue while the select committee met.

Mr Brincat said the first studies had clearly indicated the source of the problem, as had a university problem in 2000. All pointed to Marsa power station as the source of the black dust.

The Opposition, he said, would insist in the committee on total transparency from Mepa, Enemalta and the Malta Resources Authority as well as the health authorities.

The committee, in order to be effective, needed a proper budget to commission its own independent reports from local and foreign experts. It should also be able to hold public hearings to hear civil society.

The committee should also be furnished with detailed reports about emissions from the power station and details over when the Marsa power station precipitators were not functioning.

He also hoped, Mr Brincat said, that the government would not object to the summoning of witnesses by the committee.

At the end of his address Mr Brincat moved amendments to the government motion calling for a budget for the committee and for the committee to be able to hold public hearings. The amendments were accepted.