It-toroq minn żmien għal żmien, ikollhom jinqalgħu, kemm għat-tiswijiet u kif ukoll għal manutenzjoni u ta’ infrastruttura taħt it-triq, bħal dawl u ilma. Ix-xogħol irid isir, iżda jrid isir bil-ħsieb u bir-rispett lejn ir-residenti. Dawn qaluh kelliema tal-ADPD-The Green Party meta indirizzaw konferenza stampa fi Triq Birżebbuġa, f’Birżebbuġa li ilha maqlugħa għal xhur sħaħ.
Dr Melissa Bagley, Deputat Chairperson u kandidat ta’ ADPD-The Green Party fuq il-ħames distrett li minnu Birżebbuġa tagħmel parti, qalet li ADPD jifhem li x-xogħol hemm bżonn li jsir, speċjalment meta dan ikun meħtieġ biex fl-aħħar mill-aħħar itejjeb il-kwalità tal-ħajja tar-residenti. Però fil-parti l-kbira tal-każi dan jista’ jkun ippjanat b’mod li jnaqqas l-inkonvenjenzi fuq ir-residenti. “Aħna kontra l-inkonvenzjenza bla bżonn u l-ħsara li ssir matul ix-xogħolijiet, f’dan il-każ il-kwantitajiet tat-trab li qegħdin jiġu ġġenerati. Hawnhekk ix-xoghol ilu għaddej xhur shah, u żgur mhux ta’ ġid għas-saħħa tar-residenti. Huwa tajjeb li x-xoghol jkun ippjanat sew sabiex ma jiħux fit-tul u li jittieħdu miżuri sabiex it-trabijiet li jiġu ġġenerati ma jkunux ta’ skomdu u periklu għan-nies u l-ambjent in ġenerali,” sostniet Bagley. “L-iskomdu jaf jinħass aktar u aktar bħalissa, meta f’dawn il-jiem sħan tas-sajf, dak li jkun iħoss il-ħtieġa li jiftaħ tieqa għall-arja u ma jkunx jista’ minħabba t-trab li jispiċċa fid-djar u agħar minn hekk, f’imnifsejna.”
Ir-riċerka turina li hemm impatt negattiv fuq is-saħħa meta wieħed ikun espost għal partiċelli fini tat-trab (particulate matter), partikolarment fit-tul. Huwa stmat li jmutu madwar 200 persuna fis-sena f’Malta kaġun ta’ tniġġis mill-partiċelli fini (PM 2.5). Huwa magħruf sew li t-tniġġis tal-arja kkawżat minn dawn il-partiċelli ghandu impatt fuq il-mard respiratorju kif ukoll il-mard tal-qalb. Dan it-tniġġis iħalli impatt negattiv ikbar, partikolarment fuq persuni vulnerabbli, bħal dawk li jbatu b’xi kundizzjonijiet, anzjani, u kif ukoll tfal. Diġà hemm riċerka li turi li dan it-tip ta’ tniġġis jaffettwa l-iżvillup tal-moħħ u organi oħra fis-snin bikrin tal-ħajja, u l-problemi ikkawżati jafu ikunu kemm fiżjologici kif ukoll intelletwali. Tajjeb li nsemmu li f’Ġunju li għadda ġie pubblikat studju li juri li saħansitra l-iżvillup tal-moħħ tat-tfal li għadhom ġo ġuf ommhom ukoll ikun affettwat. Dan it-tniġġis mhux biss qiegħed ikollu impatt fuq il-ġenerazzjonijiet tal-lum, iżda wkoll fuq il-ġenerazzjoniiet tal-futur, temmet tgħid Bagley.
Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci qalet li “bħalma rajna tul dawn l-aħħar xhur, saru bosta xogħolijiet fit-toroq tagħna biex il-provvista tad-dawl tissaħħaħ u jkollna anqas qtugħ. Ma tistax ma ssemmix l-effiċjenza li bihom saru dawn ix-xogħlijiet. Damu biss ġimgħatejn fuq kull triq u sal-ħmistax ta’ Ġunju, ix-xogħol kien lest kollu, bħalma kien miftieħem mal-Kunsilli. Il-fatt li n-nies kienu jafu li sa ċertu data x-xogħlijiet kienu se jitlestew tathom serħan il-moħħ.
Il-problema bħas-soltu tqum meta tħalli n-nies fl-għama u fit-trab. Dan hu li ġara hawn u kien ta’ inkonvenjent kbir għar-residenti ta’ din it-triq. Aktar minn hekk, il-problemi ta’ saħħa speċjalment dawk respiratorji żdiedu u din is-sitwazzjoni ilha sejra xhur sħaħ. F’pajjiż modern u Ewropew ix-xogħlijiet għandhom ikollhom deadline ċara li jkun jafha kull min hu interessat. F’pajjiżi Ewropej apparti l-permess tax-xogħol, tiġi ukoll ippubblikata l-ispiża, min se jħallas, meta se jibda x-xogħol u meta se jitlesta, kif ukoll in-numru ta’ ħaddiema li suppost ikunu fuq is-sit. Hemm bżonn din is-serjetà u kontabbiltà lejn iċ-ċittadini; b’hekk ma jħossuhomx li xi ħadd qed jgħaddihom biż-żmien u jħallihom fil-għama. Din il-komunikazzjoni żżomm lil min daħal għat-tender responsabbli ta’ għemilu kif titlob it-trasparenza”, temmet tgħid Gauci.
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Delays in infrastructure projects and their impact on health
Every now and then, streets need to be dug up for a number of reasons, whether for maintenance or infrastructural repairs for water and electricity systems. The work needs to be done, but it must be done around the needs of the community and with respect for the residents’ well-being during such works. This was highlighted by speakers for ADPD – The Green Party when they address a press conference in Birżebbuġa Road, Birżebbuġa, which has been closed off for a number of months.
Dr Melissa Bagley, Deputy Chairperson and candidate for the fifth district for the ADPD-The Green Party, which also includes Birżebbuġa, said that ADPD understands that works that need to be done to improve the quality of life of residents should always be carried out. However, in many cases this can be planned such that inconvenience to residents is minimised. “We are against the unnecessary inconvenience and harm that residents suffer whilst such works are going on in the vicinity, in this case large quantities of dust generated by the ongoing works. The work here has been going on for months, and this is certainly of no benefit to the residents’ health. It would be beneficial to factor in residents’ well-being into such projects so that these projects are finished in a timely manner and any inconvenience, such as dust which is typically generated in road works, is minimised,” said Bagley. “Such inconvenience is probably exacerbated by the present hot weather. Residents would need to open their windows for some fresh air, and they would not be able to because of the dust. Because opening a window means allowing dust into homes and even worse, breathing in this dust which will end up in our lungs.”
“Research shows that exposure to fine particulate matter has a negative impact on health, in particular if there has been long-term exposure. It is estimated that every year around 200 people in Malta die due to exposure to particulate matter (PM 2.5). It is well known that exposure to fine dust particles of this nature may lead to respiratory illnesses and heart problems. This pollutant has a significant negative impact on people’s health, especially vulnerable individuals, such as those who live with a health condition, the elderly, and children. There is research that shows that exposure to this type of pollutant affects brain development and other organs in a child’s early years development, and such problems may be physiological in nature as well as cognitive. It is good to mention that a study published last June shows that the brain development of babies in the womb is also susceptible to such exposure. This kind of exposure is not only having an impact on today’s generations, but also our future generations”, concluded Bagley.
Sandra Gauci, ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson, said “as we have seen over these last few months, there has been a considerable number of ongoing projects in our streets to ensure a better and more reliable electricity supply. Many works have been done efficiently, lasting only around two weeks per street, and by mid-June, all work was completed, as discussed with the local councils. In fact, people were well aware of the deadline of these works, putting their minds at rest. Problems arise when people are left in the dark about these matters, besides leaving them for months facing significant amounts of dust. This is what happened in this case, which is causing considerable inconvenience to residents in the area. In addition, people experienced an increase in respiratory problems over these last few months. In a modern, European country, these works have clear deadlines which are shared with those who need to know. Apart from the publications of work permits, many other details are published, such as the costs of such projects, the body responsible for funding the project, the number of employees involved, and the commencement and termination dates. There is the need for more serious action and accountability towards citizens; that they will not feel like they are being taken for a ride and left in the dark. Communication is essential, and this should be the responsibility of the entity responsible for the project to ensure transparency,” concluded Gauci.
