eNGOs demand Prime Minister rein in lawless Infrastructure Malta

Given the recent developments arising from the Central Link Project, eNGOs Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Ramblers Association, Graffitti, Attard Residents Environmental Network (AREN) and Bicycle Advocacy Group are asking the Prime Minister to rein in the repeated planning and environmental abuses which have become synonymous with Infrastructure Malta.

Infrastructure Malta is a public entity and thus good governance demands that it respect all stakeholders and set a good example for others to follow.

It is thus extremely serious that Infrastructure Malta opted to start works on the Central Link Project despite the fact that the final decision of the Court of Appeal on the project was due in just a few weeks.

The disrespect shown to stakeholders does not befit a public entity and is more reminiscent of the tactics employed by rogue developers to present the public with a fait accompli.

This behaviour is all the more scandalous when considering the fact that the intent is for EU funds to be used for this unsustainable project.

In addition to this the flouting of environmental regulations related to the recent destruction of protected trees in Attard continues the trend of undermining Malta’s regulatory supervision, and sets the expectation that others in the private sector can also act with impunity.

It needs to be stated that Infrastructure Malta has repeatedly broken the law; In February 2019 it was fined €20,107 for widening a traffic junction in Ħal Farruġ, limits of Luqa without a permit; While in August 2018, it was slapped with a €42,454 fine over the controversial Tal-Balal road-widening project, which started even before a permit was issued.