News | Sunday, 07 February 2010

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Investigation of DCC board not ruled out

James Debono
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) is still seeking legal advice before deciding whether to investigate the operations of its DCC board (Development Control Commission) which sanctioned various illegal developments in the archeologically sensitive zone of Ta’ Baldu.
The statement was made by the Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in reply to a parliamentary question.
The MEPA auditor’s report on the Ta’ Baldu permit reprimands the DCC for issuing the permit, which resigned en masse back in March 2008 after the auditor reproached it for a permit it issued for the Lidl supermarket in Safi. The same board also issued permits in Mistra and Bahrija which were later revoked by MEPA.
The Ta’ Baldu development consisted in the construction of a rural villa complete with extensive gardens, play areas and a swimming pool – partly carried out illegally – which the applicant subsequently sanctioned by submitting applications.

MEPA auditor Joe Falzon expressed his preoccupation on the number of cases he investigated involving the actions of the DCC Division A, which he described as a “major cause of concern”.
“No adequate explanation has ever been given for these actions of the DCC. The fact that this Board has now been replaced is not a sufficient redress in the circumstances. In the interest of the MEPA’s reputation, and the fact that no satisfactory justification for these decisions was ever given, I would recommend to MEPA to request the Prime Minister to set up a formal Commission of Inquiry under the Inquiries Act to investigate in detail the operations of the DCC Division A and make appropriate recommendations to the government,” Falzon said.

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