(Adds Opposition statement)
A probe into weak concrete used in two blocks of apartments built by the Housing Authority some 20 years ago has been launched, Social Policy Minister Michael Farrugia announced this afternoon.
Addressing a news conference at the ministry he said a structural report carried out by Arup - the same company which had been tasked to look into the weak concrete used at Mater Dei - concluded that remedial works would cost some €2.5 million.
Dr Farrugia said that for the time being there was no imminent danger that the two apartment blocks, housing about 40 families, would collapse. However he said the concrete was deteriorating at a higher rate than normal.
Built in the mid-nineties, the apartments are blocks A and B in Binja Buqana, Mtarfa. These were sold at subsidised prices through a Housing Authority scheme.
Dr Farrugia said that even though the government was not legally bound to cover the expenses for these remedial works, it felt compelled to support these families. The minister said remedial works would involve strengthening the concrete foundation and the replacement of some parts of the structure. The tender document was already being drafted, Dr Farrugia said.
He also noted that the first weaknesses emerged some 15 years ago when cracks had been noted in parts of the building. However, at the time architects commissioned by the authority had said there were no problems in the structure.
Dr Farrugia said the inquiry will look into these assurances. He added that once the probe was concluded, the government would explore whether there would be grounds for civil and criminal action against those responsible.
The inquiry will be headed by the same team who looked into the weak concrete found at Mater Dei Hospital, headed by Judge Philip Sciberras.
Dr Farrugia said the retired judge was the ideal person to head this probe due to his recent experience in the Mater Dei inquiry.
OPPOSITION CHALLENGES GOVERNMENT TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
In a statement, the Opposition said that instead of taking immediate action to strengthen the weak concrete at Mtarfa by whoever was responsible, the government had ordered another inquiry to be led by Judge Sciberras, a former Labour MP.
Shadow minister Paula Mifsud Bonnici said the Opposition challenged the government not to delay matters but take immediate action if it really had the residents’ interest at heart.
She asked how were ARUP appointed to carry out the testing works and whether a call for tenders had been issued.
She also asked why Judge Sciberras had been reappointed to lead the inquiry when everyone knew he could never be independent since he was appointed by a Labour government on a number of public boards.