It-toroq minn żmien għal żmien ikollhom jinqalgħu, kemm għat-tiswijiet u kif ukoll għal manutenzjoni ta’ infrastruttura taħt it-triq, bħal dawl u ilma. Ix-xogħol irid isir, iżda jrid isir bil-ħsieb u bir-rispett kemm lejn ir-residenti kif ukoll il-komunità kummercjali. Dan intqal minn Sandra Gauci, Chairperson ta’ ADPD-The Green Party meta indirizzat konferenza stampa r-Rabat fi triq li ilha maqlugħa x-xhur u li hija rappreżentattiva ta’ kif jitmexxew ix-xogħolijiet fit-toroq tagħna.

Nifhmu 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-inkonvenjent kemm fuq ir-residenti kif ukoll il-komunità kummercjali. “Aħna kontra l-inkonvenzjenza bla bżonn u l-ħsara li ssir matul ix-xogħlijiet, f’dan il-każ il-kwantitajiet tat-trab li qegħdin jiġu ġġenerati. Hawnhekk ix-xoghol ilu għaddej xhur sħaħ, u żgur li la huwa ta’ ġid għas-saħħa tar-residenti u lanqas għal min għandu negozju hawn. Huwa tajjeb li x-xogħol 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. L-iskomdu qiegħed idum xhur sħaħ b’impatt fuq is-saħħa kif ukoll l-għajxien tan-nies. 

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 għandu impatt fuq il-mard respiratorju kif ukoll il-mard tal-qalb. Dan it-tniġġis iħalli impatt negattiv ikbar 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.

Bħalma rajna tul dawn l-aħħar xhur, saru bosta xogħlijiet fit-toroq tagħna biex il-provvista tad-dawl tissaħħaħ. Rajna wkoll xogħlijiet fuq is-sistema tad-drenaġġ kif ukoll fuq is-sistema tad-distribuzzjoni tal-ilma. Spiss jsiru ħafna xogħlijiet f’daqqa bla ebda koordinazzjoni u dan joħloq kaos u konġestjoni tat-traffiku fit-toroq. Ir-residenti u n-negozji m’għandhom qatt jitħallew fil-għama bħalma ġara f’dan il-każ. Dan ikkawżalhom inkonvenjent qawwi, filwaqt li l-problemi tas-saħħa, speċjalment dawk respiratorji, żdiedu. Din is-sitwazzjoni ilha sejra xhur sħaħ.

F’pajjiż modern u Ewropew li jaspira li jkun l-aqwa nippretendu bi dritt li x-xogħlijiet għandu jkollhom 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, iċ-ċittadini 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. Wara kollox, il-kont finali aħna nħallsuh, mit-taxxi.

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Infrastructure works and health concerns

From time-to-time, roads and streets need to be dug up for a number of reasons, such as repairs, maintenance, and underground electrical and water systems. Such work is necessary, but it must be planned with residents and the local business community in mind. This was highlighted by ADPD – The Green Party Chairperson Sandra Gauci when addressing a press conference in Rabat in a street that has been closed for months, a typical example of how such road works are managed in our country. 

We understand that work must be carried out, especially when this is key to improving our quality of life. However, it is frequently the case that this is done without reducing the inconvenience that this brings to residents and the local business community. “We are against unnecessary inconvenience and damage that occurs during these works, in this case the quantities of dust that are being generated. Work on this site has been going on for months, and it is certainly having a negative impact on the health of the residents and the businesses in the area. It is good to plan around these concerns and take the necessary measures to ensure that the dust is not harming the people and the environment in general. This state of affairs has been going on for months and it is taking its toll on the health of residents and the livelihood of people who provide a service to the community.

Research has shown us that exposure to fine dust particles, also known as particulate matter, has a long-term negative impact on our health. It is estimated that around 200 people in Malta a year die due to exposure to particulate matter (PM 2.5). It is well-known that air pollution caused by such matter has an impact on respiratory and cardiovascular disease. This is particularly of concern for the vulnerable, such as those living with health conditions, the elderly, as well as children. There is research that shows that this type of pollution affects brain and organ development in the early years of life, and these can lead to both physiological and intellectual disorders. It is pertinent to point out that a study published last June showed that such pollution also affects the developing foetus. This is to show that this kind of pollution has a negative impact on both our present and future generations.

As we have seen over these last few months, much work has been carried out on our roads and streets to improve our electricity supply. We have seen works on sewage systems as well as the water distribution system. It is often the case that work is done without any coordination, hence causing traffic congestion and air pollution for both residents and businesses. This is currently the case for the residents and businesses in this street. Moreover, there is their respiratory health to consider as well. In a modern European country that aspires to become the best in Europe we would expect that these works have a clear deadline published for all to know. In European countries work permits are published, together with information about costs, its fundings, commencement and completion dates, as well as the number of workers to be on site. There is the need for accountability for citizens, and that way they would not feel like they are being taken for a ride and left in the dark. Such communication would make those interested in such tenders responsible for their own operations and ensure transparency. After all, it is us taxpayers that are footing the bill.