Letters | Sunday, 07 June 2009

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Putting a stop to Kalkara valley’s destruction

I have been living in the vicinity of the area overlooking the present destruction of Kalkara’s natural habitat for over 40 years. I confirm that there was a garden maintained in pristine order with all the trees intact over 35 years ago. The gardener who used to take care of the vegetation, water mill, reservoirs and trees emigrated to Australia over 30 years ago! The garden has been abandoned ever since by the previous owners Rita Agius and her family, who still lives in the same street.
I reiterate that the bottom of the Kalkara Valley is being systematically cleared of all vegetation and over 16 trees have been felled down. If indeed, only ‘pruning’ is taking place, then how would you explain the fact that all the trees are being chopped down by a chain saw and bird’s nests, water reservoirs where frogs inhabit, as well as also the water mill are being cleared of everything? The water mill used to house bats, a protected wild species. Above and beyond, as you well confirm, this site contains various cultivated/ exotic species including Citrus, Almond, Fig trees, Bella Donna, Rambling Rose, Tecomaria sp. Calla Lily, Chasmanthe sp., Bougainvillea sp. These trees are not being pruned, rather destroyed and no trace is being left. This site is a unique showcase of ecological biodiversity and heritage. Such destruction contradicts present objectives forming the backbone of any development briefs, mainly:
– To encourage, where relevant, upgrading of cultural assets and infrastructure with valorization of cultural features present in the area; and:
– To promote environment and infrastructural improvements and heritage protection.
Any development will fail to conform to EU norms on public consultation or adherence to the Strategic Environment Assessment Directive. As such similar processes will be investigated by the EU Environment Commission. The landowner had tried to buy houses form residents living over the site in order to be able to develop that particular area into an old people’s home.
MEPA officials did not conduct a thorough search, as what they did is just see what is happening from my rooftop and so did not personally conduct an on-site investigation to check what has happened to the Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum), to the rare species of plant ‘Genista’ and other fauna on the property. Residents, including myself know what there was on the property, including the Fig, Almond, Carob, Pomegranate and other trees. I myself in times long past used to go and cut fruit from them!
The inability to act must change if we really profess ourselves as conservationists of nature and protectors of the environment, otherwise, the whole purpose of MEPA’s existence is pointless! If MEPA is incapable to stop such illegal behaviour then we can challenge its whole subsistence or continuation. This statement has been corroborated Vince Farrugia’s article entitled ‘The killing game must stop’ , wherein he affirmed that ‘MEPA’s system of excessive demands, delays and bureaucratic practices make a sham of the Prime Minister’s public commitments and beliefs.’ The he goes on to say ‘What we know is what we judge’!
Furthermore, in his contribution, he writes: ‘Today, I point my finger at MEPA. This authority is at law the guardian of the environment… This organization is under the responsibility of the Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who won another mandate only a year ago o n a programme that highlighted the importance of private sector collaboration to ensure a better environment for future generations.’
Mr Farrugia could not have hit the nail on its head much better than this! I do not make any distinction between one particular tree and another: it is the local, antiquated and outdated law which is not conforming to EU Directives and legislation, to which we are now full members and should be also fully adherent. In the past, there have been many instances were developers and landowners destroyed natural habitat and tress on the pretext of preservation. Most of the trees in the MEPA scheduled zone are more than 50 years old. I have eyewitnesses and also other evidence which may be brought to light in due course.
What is happening is in violation of: the EU Habitats Directive, the EU Directive on endangered species and wild fauna; and this land being a scheduled MEPA zone. If the situation is being really being kept under observation, it should be controlled. The area in front of our rear rooftop has been wiped out of all trees and vegetation. This certainly does not conform, nor compliment with the declared intention of restoring the site to its original state.
Does the ‘original state’ imply removing all trees, vegetation, fauna, wild and natural animal habitat? If this is the case, then what is being done is a pre-planned ’rape’ of the garden and all of its ecology. Do we have to keep a situation under control, while the whole ecology of the protected site disappears?
I shall be grateful if you could afford the area some protection, control and serious monitoring to avoid further, unwanted and random destruction.

Martin Vella
Kalkara

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