17 June 2007 Rating 8% No Comment  

In the same week that MEPA approved the development of villas in Ramla l-Hamra, the same body has also approved the development of a large cemetery above Ramla l-Hamra on the Nadur side. It seems that there is a determination to get rid of this picturesque area for once and for all. The proposal was not properly planned and is not justified. Alternattiva Demokratika states this because in the planning process no party involved ever managed to justify why of all places, this cemetery has to be built in the Ramla l-Hamra area. Dr. Harry Vassallo, chairperson for AD, said that "the Church in Gozo was never asked to present a project description statement, as demanded by law, and not even an environment impact assessment was requested, contrary to what happened for the Addolorata cemetery. It is not enough that the MEPA board asks the church to commission a study when the outline permit was already issued. If the law states that an EIA has to be carried out, there should be no exception to this rule. It will be interesting to see how the Gozitan Curia and MEPA will reply when notified that they have infringed the European Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC. Apart from this, it is imperative that the Church and MEPA are reminded that EU membership means the implementation of the Directive on water" Dr Vassallo said. "The farmers cooperative, who are close neighbours to this proposed cemetery are worried about this proposal that caters for 2000 tombs which could contaminate the water in the vicinity." Dr Vassallo said. "We cannot understand how no one consulted with these farmers who cultivate 5000 orange and lemon trees" Dr Vassallo said. "The fact that the Gozitan Curia has to this date not set up an Environment Commission, like the one set up in Malta, casts doubt upon the environmental commitment that AD expects from the Gozitan Curia. The persistence by developers to destroy the trees, flora and fauna in this picturesque area and the building of a large church that will be seen from kilometers away, is a proof of this" "Even though MEPA has issued the permit, it is still possible that this proposal could be called off, if the Gozitan Curia decides to do so, and in this way conflicts are avoided between the Church and the concerned parties who are willing to ask for a prohibitory injunction against an ecclesiastical body. This prohibitory injunction does not derive only from the fact that the concerned parties have their livelihood at stake, but also due to the fact that there are a lot of defects in the process that has validated the Curia's proposal" Dr Vassallo said. "A solution must be found so that the needs of the Nadur residents are met without losing any part of their town's natural heritage. AD has repeatedly stated that a cemetery should not become a cause for conflict in Nadur, but on the contrary should be the result of cooperation and consensus" Dr Vassallo said. Victor Galea, AD spokesperson for Gozo and Party secretary general said "not only has this Government failed to come up with a strategy for water, but it is also ignoring the benefits that agro-tourism can bring to this area. If Government really knew what agro-tourism means, it would have definitely opposed such a proposal in this area, where tourists come to experience the work of the farmers by taking part in it" "It seems that we are more interested in catering for the dead, than for the living. No one is against Nadur having its own cemetery, but to build a large cemetery in the vicinity of Ramla l-Hamra is absurd" concluded Victor Galea.