‘MEPA is rewarding illegalities’, environmental groups claim

The MEPA Auditor has published his report on the Mosta Wied il-Qleigha case, where a meadow was divided into four plots against MEPA policy, the groups said. Two owners gained permits to build reservoirs but abusively built two bungalows instead of reservoirs.

The ENGOs said the highest authorities were aware of all the abuse in this case as were the members of the DCC Board when they approved this permit. “If the MEPA reform is to have any credibility, government must go beyond presenting Dr Mario Demarco as the acceptable public face on this issue.

“The NGOs support the Auditor’s implication that DCC board should resign and the permit be rescinded, however board resignations are no longer enough… The public has looked on silently for too long while our heritage is destroyed by the very officials who are employed to protect it. Malta requires no less than legality now.”

The Auditor said in his report that the site history was "characterised by piecemeal illegitimate accretions to developments that have been approved… This situation is of major concern to Environment Protection Directorate, and should not be rewarded through retroactive sanctioning.”

The Director of Environment added that noting that applicants have demonstrated an inability to adhere to approved specifications, “the proposals are strongly objectionable in principle, and it is recommended that the cases are referred to enforcement unit for direct action, with a view to securing removal of all illegalities and restoration of the site to its original state.”

MEPA’s Heritage Advisory Committee also strongly recommended that application to convert one of the illegal bungalows into stables should be refused. The Auditor concluded: “This is a classic example of how to reward a lawbreaker in his work to create environmental damage. Throughout the processing of the submitted applications the applicant was acting in bad faith.”