Government should safeguard residents’ interests
The last issue of The Malta Independent on Sunday revealed how residents of Munxar were up in arms about plans by a private operator to run a manure storage and processing facility within close proximity of the village, despite not having the necessary permits.
Residents fear that the plant would be detrimental to their health and quality of life and have pointed out that, because there is only one road leading to the site, truckloads of animal manure would pass through the village centre.
Residents of nearby Sannat are equally worried about the plant, which was expected to start operating on Wednesday. On Monday the Nationalist Party, through its councillors, called on the local council to request a warrant for prohibitory injunction in a bid to delay the opening of the plant. The following day the PN claimed that the Labour Party mayor and councillors had rejected their plea and that the manure clamp would become operational. Then on Thursday, two government ministries sent a press release through the Department of Information, claiming that
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the PN was making things up.
The government, which is still to reply to questions sent more than a week ago by this newspaper, accused the Opposition of “trying to give the false impression that the project is a recycling plant of livestock manure” and said it was obvious that the project had not started since the permits had not even been processed by the concerned authorities. The ministries insisted that “all there is at the moment is private-sector interest in the environmental solutions for the amount of slurry generated in the country.”
It invited the PN to visit the site to see that its claims were unfounded. But the government’s claims were yesterday rejected by the Labour-led Munxar council.
In a statement, the council said it had been informed that certain works at the site had been carried out even if these were not covered by the necessary permits.
It also pointed out that it had not been approached by any government entity but made it clear that it was against this kind of activity taking place in the vicinity of the village.
The council said it was against the project because of the risk to health, even through potential gas emissions, and also because the material would be driven through the locality.
This was unacceptable, the council said, announcing that it had formally objected to the development.
It is clear here that the government ministries have no idea what the situation on the ground is. Instead of trying to deny facts and telling the PN to visit the site to check, the ministries should have done some fact checking themselves before firing way via the DOI.
It is also clear that the residents of Munxar and Ta’ Sannat need to be given a proper explanation by the authorities on what is really happening. They also need the government to stop playing the partisan game, listen to their concerns and ensure their safety and wellbeing. Yes, an animal waste processing plant is badly needed in Gozo but this should not come at the expense of endangering human health. The local council is standing up for the residents. The government should do the same.