Will Mepa pull its head out of Ramla sand? (2)
Published on The Times of Malta on Thursday 5th July, 2007 by Anne Zammit.
Throughout the Ramla permit saga, Mepa has continued to insist (NGOs To Stage Protest Over Ramla Permit - June 19) that "no objections whatsoever were received" during the 15-day window when the outline permit was quietly placed on their website along with hundreds of other applications for comment.
A few pages later, in Mepa's own One World ("Let the facts speak!") slot the authority listed four legal objectors - Gaia, AD, Xaghra residents and Din l-Art Helwa when the Ramla site came up again in a full development application. If such wide-ranging objections are to count for nothing, why did Mepa submit that application for public comment at all?
The objection from Din l-Art Helwa, an organisation which relentlessly goes to great pains to check and re-check the facts, was "sent late". We hope this was not grounds for rejection of the well-researched submissions. At least someone inside Mepa has got their facts right. Why were these objections not given equal prominence in the press accounts? It is little wonder public trust of Mepa's double dealings has crumbled when the right (development) arm seems not to know or care what the left (environment) arm is trying to drive home.
The system is not working. The concerns of a united environment front of NGOs, vigilant enough to notice this sad fact, should be heard out calmly with respect and shown every due attention while strong restraint toward the rampant mega-project fast-tracking via dubious waiving of EIAs or the proper (not cosmetic) landscape impact studies is urgently put in place.
I look forward to a good public turnout for the rally being organised by NGOs at City Gate, Valletta on Monday at 6.30 p.m. to raise full awareness over the developments which are poised to strike at the heart of Gozo again - Ta' Cenc and Hondoq ir-Rummien coastline.
Throughout the Ramla permit saga, Mepa has continued to insist (NGOs To Stage Protest Over Ramla Permit - June 19) that "no objections whatsoever were received" during the 15-day window when the outline permit was quietly placed on their website along with hundreds of other applications for comment.
A few pages later, in Mepa's own One World ("Let the facts speak!") slot the authority listed four legal objectors - Gaia, AD, Xaghra residents and Din l-Art Helwa when the Ramla site came up again in a full development application. If such wide-ranging objections are to count for nothing, why did Mepa submit that application for public comment at all?
The objection from Din l-Art Helwa, an organisation which relentlessly goes to great pains to check and re-check the facts, was "sent late". We hope this was not grounds for rejection of the well-researched submissions. At least someone inside Mepa has got their facts right. Why were these objections not given equal prominence in the press accounts? It is little wonder public trust of Mepa's double dealings has crumbled when the right (development) arm seems not to know or care what the left (environment) arm is trying to drive home.
The system is not working. The concerns of a united environment front of NGOs, vigilant enough to notice this sad fact, should be heard out calmly with respect and shown every due attention while strong restraint toward the rampant mega-project fast-tracking via dubious waiving of EIAs or the proper (not cosmetic) landscape impact studies is urgently put in place.
I look forward to a good public turnout for the rally being organised by NGOs at City Gate, Valletta on Monday at 6.30 p.m. to raise full awareness over the developments which are poised to strike at the heart of Gozo again - Ta' Cenc and Hondoq ir-Rummien coastline.
posted by Hondoq at
1:18 PM
