World Environment Day: “Government’s environment policy is beyond repair” AD
On occasion of world environment day, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said that one should reflect on what has been carried out, what has been omitted and on what was just done for the sake of it in terms of environmental policy. Whilst the Environment was projected to be one of the foundations for political action of GonziPN it is now clear to everyone that it is cracked and beyond repair.
Carmel Cacopardo, AD spokesperson for Sustainable Development and Local Government, said that “environment responsibilities for GonziPN is like political football with responsibilities moving on from one Minister to another. Environmental responsibilities are fragmented in various Ministries increasing the difficulty for implementation of policy.
Focusing on the water situation one still observes the large quantities of water in our streets which are channelled towards the sea almost every time it rains. This happens notwithstanding laws which have been on the statute book for over 130 years which require water harvesting measures in every building. MEPA still issues compliance certificates relative to buildings which are not provided with a rainwater well however it shifts the blame onto MRA.
This week the Prime Minister inaugurated the sewage purification plant at Ta’ Barkat limits of Xghajra. It was a good step but it was only done in order to fulfil EU obligations and not out of an environmental conviction. Substantial financial resources were applied with the resulting purified waters being dumped directly into the sea as to date the government is still considering this water as having no economic value.”
Water has been mismanaged throughout the years and unfortunately the current government does not indicate any change of that direction.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said that “AD therefore wishes to focus on this matter of concern on the 2011 World Environment Day. In line with the vision of sustainable development and ecological modernisation, we believe that the importance of water should be seen through the combination of environmental, social and economic dimensions.”
Jum Dinji ta’ l-ambjent: “Il-politika ambjentali tal-Gvern hi mfarrka” AD
Fl-okkazzjoni tal-jum dinji ghall-ambjent, Alternattiva Demokratika qalet li dan il-jum ghandu jservi ghal riflessjoni fuq dak li sar, dak li kellu jsir u ma sarx, jew inkella sar biex wiehed jghid li taparsi sar. Meta wiehed izomm f’mohhu li l-ambjent suppost li hu wiehed mit-tliet pilastri ta’ GonziPN u jaghti jharsa ftit lura biex jara kif dan il-pilastu hadem, isib li mhux talli kien hemm falliment shih f’dan il-qasam, imma l-pilalstru ta’ GonziPN ixxaqqaq u qed jitfarrak ftit ftit.
Carmel Cacopardo, Kelliemi ta’ l-AD ghall-Izvilupp Sostenibbli u Gvern Lokali, qal li “l-ambjent ghall-GonziPN sar qisu ballun politiku: ir-responsabbilta’ ghalih tghaddi minn Ministru ghal ghand iehor. Illum ir-responsabiltajiet ambjentali huma mifruxa bejn hafna Ministeri b’mod li tizdied id-diffikulta biex din titwettaq.
Niehdu is-sitwazzjoni tal-ilma. Volumi kbar ta’ ilma ghadhom isibu ruhhom fit-triqat u jintremew fil-bahar wara kull halba xita. Dan minkejja ligijiet tal-pajjiz li ilhom maghna il-fuq minn 130 sena li jghidu li kull binja irid ikollha bir biex fih jinhazen l-ilma tax-xita. Minkejja dan il-MEPA xorta ghada tohrog compliance certifikat lill-dawk li meta jibnu ma jkollhom dan il-bir! Il-MEPA twahhal fl-MRA.
Din il-gimgha rajna l-ftuh ufficjali mill-Prim Ministru tal-impjant tat-tisfija tad-drenagg f’Ta’ Barkat limiti tax-Xghajra. Haga tajba, ghalkemm din saret biss minhabba l-obbligi tal-UE u mhux minhabba xi konvinzjoni. Ammont sostanzjali ta’ rizorsi finanzjarji gew uzati biex filwaqt li d-drenagg jissaffa l-ilma msoffi jintefa’ l-bahar, ghax skond il-Gvern dan l-ilma m’ghandux valur ekonomiku.
Tul is-snin l-ilma gie uzat hazing u ma jidhirx li dan il-Gvern fi hsiebu jibdel id-direzzjoni.
Michael Briguglio, Chairperson ta’ AD, qal li “ghalhekk, Alternattiva Demokratika thoss li ghandha tiffoka fuq l-importanza ta’ l-ilma fl-okkazjoni ta’ Jum L-Ambjent 2011. Permezz tal-vizjoni favur zvilupp sostenibbli u modernizazzjoni ekologika, AD temmen li l-importanza ta’ l-ilma ghandha titqies permezz tad-dimensjonijiet ambjentali, socjali u ekonomici”.
