Save Malta’s green lungs - PD

Partit Demokratiku has condemned the attempts by developers across Malta to destroy agricultural land inside, around and between towns and villages for the purpose of speculation.

“There is now a new onslaught of such developments threatening to change the face of the country in a short time, and urgent action must be taken by the government and the Opposition to reverse this trend. Every legal means available must be explored to protect this land against speculation, even at the expense of the developers - otherwise, this frenzy will come at the expense of residents, the general public and the environment instead. The time has come for difficult choices and radical reform.”

Partit Demokratiku notes “how ex-Minister George Pullicino is the architect behind an application which requests the annihilation of a huge area of agricultural land in Żurrieq by asking for permission for the ‘extension of existing roads, formation of a new road, and zoning of a resultant site within the rationalisation area for terraced housing three floors and semi-basement.’”

“The Nationalist Party is therefore asked to instruct its members to cease their assault on the environment, rather than milk the damage that the Nationalist Party inflicted while in government. How is it morally permissible that George Pullicino, years after the infamous 2006 rationalisation exercise, is still profiting from it while his party preaches environmental justice?”

Partit Demokratiku also drew attention to another planning application, “which will ruin agricultural land in Birguma, Naxxar, cutting into a green lung in the area and obliterating the landscape. Similarly, agricultural land in Għargħur is being threatened through another application, even though it is in the Urban Conservation Area”

Yet another application “is also set to wipe out Fgura’s last green space in its urban environment through the development of a road, and a petition is currently attempting to halt this project. Finally, Partit Demokratiku warns that the equivalent of 15 football grounds of land in Swatar, along the Birkirkara bypass, are being targeted for total development as well. Partit Demokratiku is sounding the alarm on this total war being waged on our surroundings and our landscape, which is supposedly protected by our constitution.”

“Unless urgent action is taken immediately by the government, and corrupt figureheads within the Planning Authority are replaced by responsible experts, then Malta is doomed to becoming an unrecognisable concrete wasteland of little value to tourists or residents alike.”