Updated 7.20pm with PL reaction
By forging ahead with works on the Tal-Balal road without the necessary permits, the government has shown it believes it is above the law, the Nationalist Party said on Saturday.
Works are almost completed on the busy road leading from Naxxar to San Ġwann, but irrespective of the need to embellish the road, it was wrong to forge ahead with the works, the PN said in a statement.
Questions on the legality of the work arose recently when large tracts of agricultural land were bulldozed to make way for an additional lane.
The project will see new lanes, pavements and cycling-friendly infrastructure, and will improve the efficiency and safety of the roundabouts along the way.
Read: Trees gone, farmland taken as Tal-Balal gets widened
According to a spokesman for Infrastructure Malta, the upgrade will see users travelling along Triq tal-Balal reduce their travel time by 30 to 40 per cent.
But the PN hit back and said that instead of leading by example, the government decided to do away with permits.
"It is dangerous for the government to send a message that you can do as you please... with the only consequence being that the weakest will never find shelter."
The government's decision has also rendered the Environment and Resources Authority, which is meant to draw up the necessary studies, helpless. It was also wrong that citizens are not reassured that a project is being carried out at minimal environmental impact.
The statement was signed by party leader Adrian Delia, and spokesman Toni Bezzina, Jason Azzopardi and Marthese Portelli.
PN has no credibility - PL
In a reaction, the Labour Party derided the Opposition's statement, saying its four signatories were a classic example of politicians who believed they were above the law.
Dr Delia had spent a long time to submit his tax returns and Mr Bezzina had abused his public position to the extent that he forced workers to make a false declaration, the PL said.
Dr Azzopardi was chastised by the Auditor General over his role in a public land deal while Dr Portelli faced questions of allowances she was not entitled to when she served on the board of Wasteserv, it added.
"The PN has a credibility issue when it speaks about people being above the law... The Tal-Balal project will ultimately benefit the public."