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Nature Trust (Malta) has recently presented to the Office of the Prime Minister it proposals for the reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority
The document covers three main areas - the overall structure of MEPA, the Boards and the Reporting structure. NTM believes that The Malta Environment and Planning Authority, has over the years become a very bureaucratic organisation. Development application and nature conservation applications at times are taking far too long to be decided. Furthermore in cases where it is evident that there should be an outright refusal such cases are also entering into a long process of reports making it an expensive and uneconomic process for the application and time consuming for objectors.
The organisation stresses that MEPA is today unbalanced both in its operations and staff numbers resulting in MEPA being too biased towards Development rather then environmental protection. This is reflected by the number of officials with over 310 assigned to development and only around 90 on nature protection.
Nature Trust is recommending that no ODZ permits should be issued, unless for existing dwellings (extensions or repairs), agricultural facilities etc - all other ODZ applications should be dismissed at source - outright refusal.
The boards should reflect the balance of Development and Environment and thus should have board members representing equally environmental and development interest and NTM suggests a series of measures that should be adopted to make the process more transparent.
Due to past mistakes it is clear that a mechanism should be in place for permits to be revoked The NGO feels that recommendations by case Officers should have a higher weight and taken into consideration. Nature Trust (Malta) now asks the Prime Minister to start the process of the reform as soon as possible. It also urges the Prime Minister, that until the reform is done no decisions are taken by MEPA boards on mega projects and those project that will have a negative impact on the environment such as the Mistra Ridge development, Ta Cenc, Hondoq ir Rummien etc.
Only in this way will MEPA gain back the trust of the people and NGos that it is a competent Authority.
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