Land in Xewkija on which the outline permit for the construction of a supermarket was granted was located within the development boundaries well before the approval of the local plans in 2006 or the Development Zone Rationalisation exercise in the same year, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority said.

In a statement, the authority referred to a statement Flimkien Ghall-Ambjent Ahjar in which the authority was accused of issuing an outline development permit for the construction of a supermarket in Xewkija on a parcel of land that was outside the development zone and compromised by the 2006 rationalisation of local plans.

Mepa said it strongly rebutted this accusation and pointed out that the development zone boundary in this area had not changed at least since the temporary provision schemes were approved by parliament in 1988.

The authority called on FAA to ensure that it had all its facts right and up-to-date prior to issuing any media statements so as not to unnecessarily alarm and mislead the public.