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Letters • June 27 2004


The older you grow, the wiser you become

Supposedly the older one grows the wiser one becomes, but its sometimes better not to become wiser about certain things, because they make you sick when you learn them.
In a letter written by Mr Peter Gingell, PRO MEPA, he answered Dr A Mallia, for pointing a finger at MEPA for the recent tragedy in St Paul’s Bay when a house next to a construction site collapsed killing two.
If I understood Mr Gingell correctly, the PRO informed Dr Mallia and the public, that nobody was responsible for any damage, or any deaths; except the contractors.
That is unbelievable.
When you make an application to MEPA, it wants to know everything and can even stop you from widening the width of your window. It can stop you if you wish to change the style of your balcony, but MEPA seemingly cannot stop somebody who can create damage or death to your neighbour.
How many more deaths there must be before the Government of the day wakes up and does something to update the Civil Code to the realities of today.
There have recently been two instances when buildings collapsed, and in both of them people were buried and died.
Do MEPA and its PRO know what one gets from contractors when one complains?
There is insurance to cover damages when damage is done to a building, but even in this case one probably has to go to court, and maybe the heirs will get some money; but what can compensate for the loss of life? Prevention is always the better cure.
The 76cm distance limit for construction activity from a neighbour’s wall is sometimes not enough. It all depends on what kind of rock one is cutting. Even more so when in some cases builders dig under an existing wall, and go 2 storeys deep.
In my opinion even architects should shoulder some responsibilities. Architects should go on the site every day. Perhaps they do; but some do not care, and, of course, they know what the MEPA PRO said in his letter.

Joseph Muscat
Mosta

 

 

 

 

 





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