Alternattiva Demokratika illum issottomettiet dokument bil-proposti tagħha għall-konsultazzjoni pubblika dwar il-proposta ta’ mina bejn Malta u Għawdex. Id-dokument huwa mehmuż ma’ din l-istqarrija.

AD qed tisħaq li flimkien mal-aspetti li s-soltu jiġu studjati f’EIA, dawn il-ħames aspetti għandhom ingħataw importanza kbira:

1. Il-politika dwar it-trasport: il-proposta tal-mina għandha tiġi studjatha mil-lenti tal-miri, l-miżuri u l-politika kif elenkati fl-Strateġija Nazzjonali dwar it-Trasport u l-Master Plan dwar it-Trasport (National Transport Strategy 2050 u National Transport Master Plan 2025). L-istudju għandu jwassal għal alternattivi varji għall-proposta ta’ mina taħt il-baħar.
2. L-istudji ġeoloġiċi għandhom ikunu konklużi u eżaminati b’mod kritiku.
3. Il-pjanti u disinji preliminari tal-mina taħt il-baħar għandhom jiġu konklużi biex b’hekk tkun tista’ ssir stima realistika u aktar veritiera tal-ispiża. L-istimi għandhom ikunu skrutinati fil-fond. Studju dwar il-fattibilita’ tal-proġett għandu jkun parti mill-EIA.
4. Bħala parti mill-EIA għandha ssir analiżi dettaljata tal-impatt tal-mina fuq ir-riżors pubbliku tal-ilma tulir-rotta kollha tal-mina. L-impatti fuq l-ilma tal-pjan tal-Miżieb għandhom ikunu studjati bir-reqqa, anke fid-dawl tar-responsabilitajiet ta’ Malta taħt id-Direttiva tal-Politika Qafas dwar l-Ilma tal-UE.
5. L-EIA għandu jinkludi analiżi dettaljata tal-proposta tal-mina fuq l-ekoloġija tal-Wied tal-Pwales, inkluż ir-Riserva tas-Simar li hija riserva Natura 2000 tal-UE.

Il-proposti ta’ AD għandhom jiżguraw li l-impatti maġġuri u serji tal-proposta ta’ mina jkunu analizzati fid-dettall.

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All major impacts of proposed Gozo tunnel should be studied in detail

Alternattiva Demokratika has today presented its submissions in response to the public consultation relative to the Malta-Gozo tunnel. The document is attached below.

AD is emphasising that in addition to the normal areas which an EIA investigates the following five areas should be focused upon:

1. Transport Policy: in particular the proposed tunnel should be examined in view of the   provisions, targets and policy objectives of the National Transport Strategy 2050 and the National Transport Master Plan 2025. Such an examination should also lead to the consideration of alternative solutions to the proposed tunnel.
2. The geological studies should be concluded and be examined critically.
3. The preliminary designs should be concluded, and on this basis preliminary realistic costings should be concluded and be subjected to a critical analysis. In particular a realistic feasibility study should form part of the EIA.
4. A detailed analysis on the impact of the tunnel proposal on the water resources along the whole route of the tunnel should form part of the EIA studies. In particular the impacts on the Miżieb aquifer should be analysed in detail in view of Malta’s commitments spelt out in the Water Framework Directive of the EU.
5. A detailed analysis of the tunnel proposal on the Pwales Valley eco-system, including most importantly the Simar Nature Reserve, an EU Natura 2000 site, should form part of the EIA studies primarily to understand the impact of the proposed intervention on the valley eco-system but also in view of Malta’s commitments spelt out in the Habitats Directive of the EU.

This will ensure that all potential major impacts of the proposed Malta-Gozo tunnel are examined in detail.