
Alternattva Demokratika-The Green Party has examined the consultation document published by Governement on land use planning entitled ‘For an Efficient Planning System’.
Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “We reiterate what we have already stated that the smallness of the country should lead to a consolidation and not to a fragmentation of environmental governance functions. It would have been much better if the environment and land use planning were retained within the same authority. Their consolidation in one authority twelve years ago was a step forward which however was not followed up with the allocation of additional resources for the Environment Directorate. In addition, the MEPA Board members appointed during these years were not capable of recognising the need and importance of more emphasis on the environmental responsibilities of MEPA.”
Carmel Cacopardo, AD Deputy Chairperson, said: “The document focuses on the efficiency of the land use planning process. Under this generic objective it diminishes the protection of the area outside the development zone, of protected buildings and zones. To date, as a result of the 2010 amendments, unauthorised development outside the development zone, changes to protected properties or development in protected areas could not be sanctioned. All this is now possible to regularise, as it is considered efficiency to do so. This is a backward step and sends a message that crime pays.
“The consultation document on land use planning also proposes the reconsideration of scheduling after 10 years. This too is a backward step because it will encourage the non-protection of our heritage and encourage those who still consider scheduling as an obstacle.
“The consultation document barely discusses the composition of Boards concerning Planning. AD considers that it is about time that Members of Parliament are no longer directly involved in land use planning decisions. The role of Parliament through its committees should be one of monitoring the authority, including the examination of the appointments made by government.
“The consultation document on land use planning consistently seeks to protect the interest of developers but nowhere does it protect the interests of the community. In most cases the acceleration of the process to issue development permission will mean less protection of third party rights, of open spaces and scheduled properties or protected areas.
“Thus when one considers the government consultation document as a whole it is a backward step,” concluded Cacopardo.
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Alternattiva Demokratika eżaminat id-dokument ta’ konsultazzjoni ippubblikat mill-Gvern dwar ir-riforma tal-ippjanar għall-użu tal-art intitolat ‘For an Efficient Planning System’.
Iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Ngħidu bla tlaqliq li ċ-ċokon tal-pajjiż għandu jwassal għal konsolidazzjoni mhux għal frammentazzjoni tal-funzjonijiet ta’ governanza ambjentali. Kien ikun iktar għaqli li kieku l-ambjent u l-ippjanar għall-użu tal-art baqgħu t-tnejn fl-istess Awtorita’. Il-konsolidazzjoni f’awtorita’ waħda li saret tnax-il sena ilu kienet pass il-quddiem li iżda ma kenitx segwita bl-allokazzjoni ta’ iktar riżorsi għad-Direttorat tal-Ambjent. Il-membri tal-Bord tal-MEPA li nħatru tul is-snin ma kenux kapaċi jagħrfu l-importanza ta’ iktar emfasi fuq ir-responsabbiltajiet ambjentali tal-MEPA.”
Carmel Cacopardo, id-Deputat Chairperson ta’ AD, qal: “Id-dokument jiffoka fuq l-effiċjenza tal-proċess tal-ippjanar għall-użu tal-art. Taħt dan l-iskop ġeneriku jnaqqas il-protezzjoni għaż-żona barra l-iżvilupp, għall-bini protett u għaż-żoni protetti. Sal-lum, bl-emendi tal-2010, zvilupp bla permess barra miż-żona ta’ żvilupp, jew bdil f’bini protett inkella żvilupp f’zona protetta, ma setax ikun sanzjonat. Dan issa, f’isem l-effiċjenza,ser ikun possibbli li jkun regolarizzat. Dan hu pass lura u ser jippremja lil min abbuża.
“Id-dokument ta’ konsultazzjoni dwar l-ippjanar jipproponi ukoll li l-iskedar ikun ikkunsidrat mill-ġdid wara 10 snin. Din il-proposta hi pass lura għax ser isservi biex tinkoraġgixxi n-nuqqas ta’ ħarsien tal-patrimionju tagħna u dan billi taghti tama li min ihares lejn l-iskedar bħala xkiel.
“Id-dokument ta’ konsultazzjoni ftit li xejn jitkellem dwar il-kompozizzjoni tal-Bordijiet tal-Ippjanar. Alternattiva Demokratika jidhrilha li wasal iż-żmien li ma jibqax ikun hemm involviment dirett tal-Membri Parlamentari fit-teħid ta’ deċiżjonijiet tal-ippjanar tal-uzu tal-art. Ir-rwol tal-Parlament permezz tal-kumitati tiegħu għandu jiffoka fuq is-sorveljanza tal-awtorita’, inkluz li jgħarbel il-ħatriet tal-Gvern fl-awtoritajiet.
“Id-dokument ta’ konsultazzjoni dwar l-ippjanar konsistentement ifittex li jħares l-interessi ta’ min irid jiżviluppa l-art iżda fl-ebda parti tiegħu ma jfittex li jħares l-interessi tal-komunita. F’ħafna każi t-tħaffif u l-għaġġla tal-proċess tal-ħruġ tal-permessi ta’ żvilupp ser ifisser inqas ħarsien għad-drittijiet ta’ terzi u għall-ħarsien tal-ispazji pubbliċi, ta’ bini skedat u zoni protetti.
“Meta wieħed iħares b’mod komplessiv lejn id-dokument il-proposta tal-Gvern hi għaldaqstant pass lura,” ikkonkluda Cacopardo.
