1 comment.MEPA stops dumping of sand in Qawra by St Paul’s Council
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The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) said that it has stopped the St Paul’s Local Council from further dumping back into the sea, sand and other material which was removed from nearby slipway in the Qawra area.
MEPA said the local council, some weeks back, had requested authorisation for the removal of sand from around the slipway in question. The Authority said that “while the it did not object given that the activity was considered to be maintenance work, it however requested that prior to the works commencing, it was to provide the Authority with further relevant details. These details were never forthcoming from the local council.”
MEPA said that it “strongly condemns the behaviour of the local council for carrying out this dumping activity without the necessary authorisation and required monitoring.”
“Following reports early this morning that this activity was being carried out, the Authority’s enforcement directorate immediately went on site to stop this activity. At no point was the Authority monitoring the activity as was reported, since it was not informed that the activity had started, enforcement officers who went on site were there actually to stop this activity,” MEPA concluded.
” At no point was the Authority monitoring the activity as was reported.” Why? Isn’t part of their job to monitor activities? This is one of the crazy things about Malta that I find hard to understand. Someone apply to MEPA for permission to make changes to their property and MEPA object due to problems in the application. They don’t bother informing MEPA that they are starting the work and by the time MEPA finds out the work is finished. MEPA then complains that they weren’t told the work was being carried out, fine them a few Euros and schedule the work. What is the point of MEPA existing if people are allowed to do whatever they like anyway?
The situation in St Paul’s bay was bang out of order. This is a Labour council and if Joseph Muscat really cares about the environment he needs to kick butt big time and publically. Whoever was behind this dumping, and let’s face it the buck should stop with the Mayor, needs to be removed from his position immediately.