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local
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Death knell for Kalkara valley
By
Kurt Sansone
More than four tumoli of agricultural land being used for organic
farming may be lost if the Planning Authority goes ahead with its
plans to allow the south side of the Kalkara valley to be turned
into terraced and clustered houses.
The PA has published a public consultation draft which proposes
that the whole sloping area just below the Kalkara bastions leading
to the church be transformed into a built-up area with two roads.
The land in question does not only include the organically farmed
land; there is also a wooded area and the drainage tunnel leading
to Wied Ghammieq passes from beneath the valley.
MaltaToday spoke to Ephraem Mallia who has been experimenting with
organic farming in the area for the last two years.
"My family have been working the land for at least three generations,"
Mr Mallia said. "If the land is eventually developed the whole
project will be lost."
He explained that it was not easy to relocate the project.
"Organic farming does not involve pesticides and chemical fertilisers,"
he stressed. "Before organic produce can be recognised as such,
at least five years have to pass over the land in question, to ensure
that any pesticides and fertilisers used beforehand would have been
washed away."
He explained that apart from the time factor, organic farmland has
to have a perimeter of at least 200m separating it from other agricultural
land farmed in traditional methods.
MaltaToday spoke to other residents in the area who were all against
the proposed development. They insisted that the tract of land,
which is still in pristine condition, constitutes the last breathing
space in the area.
"The Planning Authority’s idea to develop the valley slope
is a death knell calling," they said. "As soon as the
PA gives the go-ahead we are certain that the companies who own
the land will start building."
The PA’s consultation draft indicates that the land in question
is owned by a number of unnamed individuals and companies, although
some companies have no proof of ownership.
Kalkara Mayor Michael Cohen lamented the fact that the council was
the last to know about the draft consultation process.
"The council got to know after residents were personally approached
by PA officials," he said. "We will now have a meeting
with the PA on Wednesday in a bid to put forward our proposals."
He highlighted at least three problems that the development will
create.
"Firstly the wooded area and farmland will be destroyed,"
he said. "Secondly, the project will increase the flooding
problems already experienced in the village square in front of the
church and thirdly the impact on the drainage gallery passing below
the valley has to be studied."
The way things have accelerated over the last few weeks is worrying
both the mayor and Kalkara residents. It seems that the developers,
which will certainly gain once the PA gives its go ahead, are pressing
the authority to finalise its plans for the area.
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