The Chairman and MEPA Board said in a statement today that they “categorically deny the claim made by Din l-Art Hewla, that they tried to push through the approval of the ODZ policy in full knowledge that a discussion on procedures governing the launch of new planning policies in the absence of SPED (Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development) was about to commence on 29th January 2014 with the Parliamentary Committee for Environment and Development Planning.”

MEPA added that “this DLH statement was only meant to put the Chairman and the MEPA Board in bad light.”

“The MEPA Board agenda for discussing and approving the ODZ Policy was issued to all Board members on Monday 20th January 2014. The CEO was notified late evening of Wednesday 22nd January 2014 that a Parliamentary Committee meeting for Environment and Development Planning was to be held on Wednesday 29th January 2014,” MEPA said.

MEPA also pointed out that “the agenda of the Parliamentary Committee meeting received by the CEO did not make any reference that a discussion was going to be held regarding the relationship between SPED and planning policies which are currently being formulated.”

The Authority added that “In fact item 3 on the agenda stated that the Parliamentary Committee was to discuss Informazzjoni dwar policies tal-MEPA li qed jigu aggornati (Information regarding policies which MEPA is currently reviewing) and not their relationship with SPED.”

“It was only during the Parliamentary Committee meeting that correspondence from Din l-Art Helwa addressed to the Chairperson of the Committee was read out in which it requested that the matter related to the relationship between SPED and planning policies should be discussed.,” MEPA said.

The Authority concluded by saying that it “reminds the public that the approved ODZ policy still needs to be discussed by Parliament.”

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