Letters | Sunday, 30 November 2008

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Maghtab’s pigs, more equal than humans

I write with reference to the article regarding the MP urging MEPA to process farmers’ applications and would like to ask the Nationalist MP Philip Mifsud, why not see for himself what is actually happening on these so called farms?
Abandoned farms have been granted permits to be converted to industrial garages, others are being used for all sorts of illegal activity, such as stables, workshops, caravan storage, tuna pens storage, etc. Whilst fresh arable agricultural land is being granted permit to build new farms for the sake of EU funds! This has become the standard excuse and practice to get development permits fast!
Isn’t this interference with MEPA’s operation by giving such instructions to MEPA? Should we have more farms at the cost of anything, even if these are situated right next to residents for the sake of getting EU funds?
May I also remind Hon. Mifsud of the new permits for pig farm and new permit for cow farm on Triq is-Salina in Naxxar. These were recently granted by MEPA, which will actually be touching people’s homes, with the excuse of getting EU funds on fresh arable agricultural land.
I am quite sure that these funds are not intended to disrupt people’s lives. No one likes the idea of having a pig farm or a cow farm under his bedroom window. I am quite sure the Hon. Mifsud would not be happy to accept these just because these poor farmers are getting funding from EU, or would he?
The money originating for these EU funds come from our tax money. If one truly believes that these animal farmers have the right to deprive people of the right to enjoy their homes, I am quite sure the EU will not be so pleased to know that EU citizens are being deprived of a number of fundamental rights, being mainly their human dignity as per Article 1 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – “Human dignity is inviolable. It must be respected and protected.”; and Article 7 on the respect for private and family life – “Everyone has the right to respect for his or her private and family life, home and communications.”
How can one have the dignity of his home when a permit is granted for a development that would obviously have a deleterious impact on the existing adjacent residences and cause bad neighbourliness by virtue of noise, smell, atmospheric pollution, unusual operating times, visual intrusion, health hazard, financial loss and so on?
As you can imagine, living with a pig farm sharing your dividing wall is degrading to say the least! The health hazards; nauseating smells; and disturbing noise at any time of day and night, all the year round! No holidays, no weekends, no nothing.
Farms and agricultural land in Maghtab being used for other purposes other than agriculture.

John Portelli
Naxxar

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