Kemm iridu jmutu nies fuq il-lantijiet tax-xogħol tal-kostruzzjoni, biex l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar tibda titgħallem tieħu r-regolamentazzjoni tal-iżvilupp bis-serjetà? Dan staqsewh kelliema ta’ ADPD-The Green Party waqt konferenza tal-aħbarijiet quddiem l-uffiċini tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar fil-Furjana dwar it-tibdil li ġie propost għall-proċeduri ta’ permessi tal-ippjanar b’mod simplifikat, komunement magħrufa bħala permessi DNO.

Il-ġimgħa l-oħra ġie fi tmiemu perjodu ta’ konsultazzjoni pubblika dwar emendi għall-Ordni dwar in-Notifikazzjoni dwar Żvilupp (DNO). Bl-emendi proposti l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar qed tipproponi li proġetti urbani ta’ tħaddir (greening projects) li jsiru mis-settur pubbliku jkunu eżenti mill-proċess kollu tar-regolamentazzjoni tal-iżvilupp. Din l-eżenzjoni tinkludi proġetti li jkollhom proposti għal strutturi u faċilitajiet mibnija.

Id-Deputat Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party il-Perit Carmel Cacopardo, qal li din il-proposta tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar tinjora r-rakkomandazzjoni tal-kummissjoni tal-inkjesta dwar il-mewt ta’ Jean-Paul Sofia fiż-żona industrijali ta’ Kordin. Infakkru li fl-inkjesta li tmexxiet mill-Ombudsman jirriżulta li l-proċess ta’ ħruġ ta’ permess ta’ żvilupp simplifikat għal binja industrijali permezz tad-DNO mill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar kien wieħed mill-fatturi li wassal għad-disgrazzja li riżultat tagħha miet Jean-Paul Sofia. 

Dan sar minħabba li ftit li xejn hemm skrutinju ta’ żvilupp li jsir wara li dan ikun approvat bil-proċess tad-DNO. Fil-fatt waħda mir-rakkomandazzjonijiet tar-rapport tal-inkjesta kienet li l-iżvilupp fiż-żoni industrijali jkun soġġett għall-iskrutinju sħiħ marbut mal-proċess normali tal-applikazzjonijiet ta’ żvilupp. Il-proposta tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar, żied jgħid Cacopardo, tfisser li se jkun possibbli żvilupp ta’ strutturi u faċilitajiet ta’ kull qies bla skrutinju pubbliku, kemm fiż-żona ta’ żvilupp kif ukoll barra minnha, sakemm jistgħu b’xi mod ikunu assoċjati ma’ proġett ta’ tħaddir. 

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party Sandra Gauci qalet li t-tibdil propost għall-proċeduri ta’ permessi tal-ippjanar se jwassal biex dawn il-proġetti mhux se jkunu soġġetti għall-iskrutinju pubbliku. S jkun diffiċli wkoll li jkunu regolati mill-awtoritajiet l-oħra. Skont il-proċeduri applikabbli għad-DNO mhux se jkun possibli li l-pubbliku jew għaqdiet ambjentali jirreġistraw oġġezzjonijiet għall-iżvilupp propost, li kultant ikun biss taparsi proġett ta’ tħaddir. Lanqas m’hu se jkun possibbli li jkun hemm appell mid-deċżjonijiet li jittieħdu, kemm minħabba li fil-proċess tad-DNO ma jeżistix appell, kif ukoll minħabba li dawn il-proġetti se jkunu eżentati mill-parti l-kbira tal-policies tal-ippjanar.

“Dan kollu jfisser ħaġa waħda,” emfasizzat Gauci, “li l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar qed tfittex li tkun ‘il fuq mil-liġi. Qed tfittex li tkun f’pożizzjoni li tiddeċiedi mingħajr ma tkun taħt skrutinju u konsegwentement kontabbli. Din hi attitudni rresponsabbli u bla dubju tmur kontra diversi obbligi li għandu l-Gvern kemm dawk li jirriżultaw minn liġijiet lokali kif ukoll minn trattati internazzjonali. Is-saltna tad-dritt hi applikabbli anke fil-qasam tal-ambjent,” temmet tgħid Gauci.

***

How many must die for the Planning Authority to start learning the ropes? 

How many must die on construction sites before the Planning Authority learns the ropes and commences to take regulation of the development industry seriously? This question was posed by spokespersons for ADPD-The Green Party at a press conference in front of the Planning Authority offices in Floriana. The press conference dealt with the proposed changes to simplified procedures for development permits commonly referred to as DNO permits.

Last week marked the end of the public consultation relative to the proposed amendments to the Development Notification Order (DNO). Through the proposed amendments ,the Planning Authority is proposing that urban greening projects carried out by the public sector should be exempt from the development regulatory process. This exemption includes projects involving structures and built facilities.

ADPD-The Green Party Deputy Chairperson Architect Carmel Cacopardo stated that the Planning Authority’s proposal ignores the recommendations of the public inquiry into the death of Jean-Paul Sofia at the Corradino Industrial Estate. It is pertinent to point out that the public inquiry which was led by the Ombudsman had concluded that the process of issuing of a simplified development permit for an industrial building by the Planning Authority through the DNO was one of the factors which led to the fatal accident resulting in the death of Jean-Paul Sofia. 

This was the result of next to no monitoring of the development subsequent to the approval of DNO permit.  As a matter of fact, one of the recommendations of the public inquiry report was that development in the industrial estates should be subject to the full scrutiny process linked to normal development applications.  The Planning Authority proposal, added Cacopardo, signifies that it will be possible to develop structures and facilities of any size without public scrutiny, both within the development zone and outside of it (ODZ) as long as they can be associated with a greening project.

ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci emphasised that the proposed changes to the development permit procedures will necessarily signify that these greening projects will not be subject to public scrutiny. It will also be difficult for other authorities to regulate this type of development.  As per the currently applicable DNO procedures it will not be possible for the public or even environmental NGOs to register objections to the proposed development, for whatever reason.  It will not even be possible to appeal from the decisions taken as the right of appeal is not part of the DNO process. The fact that these projects will be exempted from a substantial part of planning policies will render their scrutiny more difficult.

“All this signifies one clear point,” Gauci emphasised, “the Planning Authority seeks to be above the law. It seeks to be in a position of not being accountable for its decisions. This is an irresponsible attitude and clearly flies in the face of Malta’s various commitments resulting from both local legislation as well as international treaties. The rule of law is essential in environmental matters too,” Gauci concluded.