ENGO FLIMKIEN GHAL AMBJENT AHJAR decried government footdragging and reluctance to award public domain status to the endangered valley of Wied Ghomor. A barrage of development applications in this ecologically sensitive area are being considered by the Planning Authority It was the Environment Minister Jose Herrera himself who nominated Wied Ghomor to be granted public domain status in April last year. Since then, there is no sign of this nomination being implemented.
A FAA spokesperson compared this unfavourably with the speed at which controversial development applications are dished out. “While massive projects which lead to intensification of urban density are rushed through in a matter of months, a measure to save an urban lung between St. Julians and San Gwann is put on a permanent backburner. What is the cause of this discrimination? The Health Ministry has just commissioned a 3 million Euro study on the social determinants of health to see how our lifestyles affect our health. Why are we spending this money to find out what we already know- that residents are forced to lead unhealthy lifestyles because of government policies militating against open air spaces and nature? “
FAA called upon the government to promote ecologically protective measures with the same speed as it welcomes construction projects.
