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James Debono
Malta could stand to lose EUR12 million in funding if both the sewage treatment plants planned for Gozo and Mellieha are not operational by the end of 2006.
But despite the island’s commitment for funds, the environmental impact assessment for the plant at ic-Cumnija in Mellieha, commissioned back in 1998, has not yet been finalised.
And the eight-year stretch contrasts sharply with the fast tracking of the golf course EIA, expected to be completed in six months’ time according to the Malta Tourism Authority’s environmental consultant Adrian Mallia. Both the Gozo and ic-Cumnija plant lack final approval from MEPA.
Malta Environment and Planning Authority spokesperson Sylvana Debono said the EIA for the north sewage plant has not yet been completed: “Following the completion of the EIA, the latter will be made available to the public for consultation
MaltaToday is informed that in 2004, new studies were required by MEPA following the relocation of the plant by a few metres from agricultural to garigue land.
Despite these delays however, Water Services Corporation CEO Arthur Rizzo says the plant is expected to be fully operational by October 2006.
Sylvana Debono said the EIA for the Gozo plant at Ras il-Hobz has been completed and the relative outline development permit issued in 2002, but the project still awaits the final approval of the MEPA board.
Malta is committed with the Italian government to have the north sewage treatment plant operational by December 2006 in order to benefit from EUR8.55 million in funding from the Italian protocol, which will only be paid in full if the plant is completed in time.
Informed sources have however told MaltaToday the Italian government is expected to be more flexible with deadlines, unlike the rigid EU.
Malta is also committed to have the Gozo sewage plant operational by November 2006 in order to benefit from EUR3.4 million in pre-accession EU funds, 52 per cent of the total expense to be funded by the EU.
In order to comply with the Bathing Water Quality Directive by the end of March 2007, all waste water will have to be treated before it is discharged into the marine environment. At present, sewage is still directly discharged in the sea.
In June 2003, the government announced the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure would construct new sewage treatment plants in Gozo and in the north of Malta by December 2005, and another new sewage treatment plant in the south by March 2007.
Yet so far these deadlines have not yet been met and if the process is not accelerated Malta risks losing millions in Italian and EU funds.
jdebono@newsworksltd.com
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