Left-wing think-tank organisation Zminijietna has expressed its full support for environmentalists and members of the public who have raised serious concerns regarding the decision taken by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) in relation to the proposed Comino redevelopment.

For Zminijietna, “ERA made the wrong decision in approving interventions concerning trees and vegetation linked to the proposed development,” it said.

The organisation stressed that the Comino project is ”not an ordinary development. It concerns an environmentally sensitive and protected area of national importance, and any intervention that could result in the removal, damage or alteration of trees and natural habitats must be approached with the utmost caution.”

Zminijietna added that ”in these circumstances, we believe that the precautionary principle should have prevailed. It is difficult to understand why irreversible interventions connected to a development project should proceed while the project’s planning status remains subject to further consideration.”

Zminijietna therefore called on the authorities ”to place the protection of Comino’s natural environment above private development interests. Comino is a national environmental asset and belongs to the public. Its natural environment must not be sacrificed in the interests of commercial development.”

The organisation concluded by once again reiterating its support for environmental organisations and members of the public ”who are challenging decisions that could adversely affect Comino’s protected environment.”

File photo

Permalink: Comino: Zminijietna supports environmentalists’ concerns over ERA decision