Grit blasting works should stop at Corradino, as it was a hazard to and disrupted activities at a sport complex there, its manager said.

Corradino Sports Complex manager Ronnie Calleja.

Corradino Sports Complex manager Ronnie Calleja made the appeal in the wake of grit blasting activities which, on Thursday, left an open-air venue within the perimeter of the facility covered in black dust.

Following enquiries by the media, Malta Industrial Parks, which manages the industrial zone, halted the operation. An MIP spokesman said they were not aware of such works.

The directors of the sports complex are considering suing for damages the unnamed contractor carrying out the works.

“This government closed down the Marsa power station and the hitherto ubiquitous black dust disappeared. However, if the authorities would issue permits for grit blasting, we’re back to square one. These things still happen only in the south,” Mr Calleja said.

“All I am asking for now is a guarantee, ideally from the Prime Minister, that such activity will never take place again here so that sports complex users can breathe clean air,” he added.

Mr Calleja pointed out that the alarm bells went off when, a few days ago, heavy equipment was placed at a plot of land adjacent to the complex. When he ap-proached the workers on site he was told the material in question was oil rig paraphernalia and would remain there up to Monday. However, no indication was given that grit blasting would take place.

All I am asking for now is a guarantee, ideally from the Prime Minister, that such activity will never take place again here so that users can breathe clean air

“Moreover, I was told that they had permission to put this equipment there by an MIP official as the land belongs to them,” he added. Mr Calleja said the initial impact of the operation was partially mitigated by the eastern wind which carried the dust particles away from the complex but the situation soon worsened when the wind started blowing from the opposite direction.

“The noise emanating from the blasting site was deafening and a cloud of black dust soon covered an outdoor basketball court to the point that all activities had to be cancelled,” he noted.

He said his complaint at the Paola police station was of little help because he was told that the activity was covered by the necessary permits issued by MIP.

Mr Calleja said that blasting works continued till the evening, when the contractor removed all equipment, promising to clean up the mess he had left behind him.