A number of Kalkara residents are objecting to a massive pruning exercise conducted in the lower part of the Kalkara valley which is protected from development.
Residents said that fig, almond, date and pomegranate trees as well as a carob tree have been felled and that the pruning conducted by the landowner has effected bird nests and disturbed the natural habitat.
But MEPA claims that an inspection on the site showed no evidence of the removal of protected trees. “From investigations carried out, it transpired that the lower part of the valley was being cleared up, by the removing of weeds and the pruning of fruit trees,” a spokesperson said.
MEPA claims that only two trees, a fig and an almond tree, had been “drastically pruned”. But these fruit trees are not protected under the Trees and Woodlands Regulations and hence no MEPA permit is required for their removal.
“Although Carob trees, Date Palm and Pomegranate are protected by law, there was no evidence that any of these trees or any other protected trees had been uprooted, removed or in any way damaged in the area”, the MEPA spokesperson told MaltaToday.
Kalkara mayor Michael Cohen has also written to residents living next to the valley to inform them that the owner has promised that he had no intention to construct any new building on the site and that the site was being pruned to avoid fires during the summer.
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