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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 5 MARCH 2014 News 4 JEROME CARUANA CILIA THERE had been intentional procras- tination to process planning applica- tions by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority under the Nation- alist administration. This accusation was made by Na- tionalist MP Ryan Callus on Monday's edition of Reporter on TVM. "There were cases in which the ap- plications took ample time to be proc- essed. I believe that this was carried out intentionally under the previous administration, in order to prolong the application process. This gave the impression that MEPA was not work- ing satisfactorily." On Monday's edition of Reporter, Balzan also discussed environmental concerns with Parliamentary Secre- tary responsible for MEPA and the Lands Department Michael Farrugia, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar coordi- nator Astrid Vella and the president of the Malta Developers' Association, Sandro Chetcuti. Farrugia said the government ana- lysed the policies that were in place and checked whether amendments were necessary. "For instance, in an attempt to re- duce bureaucracy, an environmental NGO will automatically be an objec- tor. The new law will certainly favour the environmental NGOs." This week's edition of Reporter dis- cussed the government's development policies and its efforts to strike a bal- ance between reviving the fortunes of the construction industry and envi- ronmental protection. Asked whether the Labour admin- istration was pro-environment and or pro-construction, parliamentary secretary responsible for planning Michael Farrugia said that although the government's rallying cry was to be pro-business, "our aim is to create a balance between being pro-develop- ment whilst not allowing any exploita- tion". Chetcuti said that although over- development is an issue, it is unfair to make a blanket statement and say that everyone is against development. "The majority are in favour of a pro-busi- ness approach," Chetcuti said, while referring to the government endorsing itself as 'pro-business'. Balzan also asked whether the green lobby's criticism is justified, and whether the latest changes to the out- side-development-zone construction (ODZ) policy facilitate over-develop- ment. Farrugia said that under the previ- ous administration, there was lack of public consultation and no direction with regards to environmental policy and decisions. MEPA has also issued a public con- sultation with the aim of revising an existing policy allowing the applica- tion of the controversial Floor Area Ration mechanism. This is still appli- cable, but will be amended in the com- ing weeks. "Effectively, the proposed prohibi- tion of high buildings will limit any development on specific sites, thus avoiding a repeat of the Mistra contro- versy, which saw the authority approv- ing high-rise development on a ridge." Astrid Vella had hit out at the gov- ernment for "overlooking" the people's stand against more development in Malta, claiming the government is not listening to the majority. "Rather than addressing the people's concerns against overdevelopment, the government is instead widening its policies to facilitate more develop- ment and the building of taller build- ings and the ODZ policy," the FAA coordinator said during the govern- ment's public consultation meeting in Pembroke two weeks ago. The latest MEPA policy on ODZ has been the main bone of conten- tion between green lobbyists and the government and MEPA. However, the issue reached boiling point last Octo- ber after the authority – seven months into the government's legislature – approved the Mistra redevelopment project. Vella insisted that the environmen- tal ombudsman's report on the Mistra development confirmed that the out- line permit issued in 2009 was not cast in stone and could be "revoked and challenged". Speaking on Reporter, the FAA coordinator said that the de- velopers did not meet the provisions. "One of the main conditions was to deal with the traffic congestion prob- lem the development will bring to the area. This was not carried out." Chetcuti said that there was a lack of direction in development and no adequate structure plan. "Environ- mental NGOs and the MDA will be working together to achieve a success- ful balance that provides sustainable development and that will offer more economic activity, while remaining free of abuse." On the Mistra development, Chetcu- ti said "the MDA is in favour of a level playing field in this sector. It is very unfair to see that a particular project will have certain leeway's and hence others will be at a disadvantage". Chetcuti refused accusations that developers are merely money-orient- ed, and said that the annual member- ship fee to become a member of MDA is just €70. "This is much less that the annual membership fee of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and other associations. We are a voluntary association." As the MDA president, Chetcuti car- ries out meetings with both political parties – though he has been accused of being in cahoots with the Labour Party in the past. "As MDA president, I have consistent meetings with both the Nationalist and the Labour party representatives. However, as a private person I am entitled to be a party vol- unteer." Reporter is aired live every Monday at 6.55pm on TVM. The programme is repeated on TVM2 on Monday at 10.15pm 'The majority are pro-business' – Sandro Chetcuti Sandro Chetcuti said he had a right to be a party volunteer PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD KMB undergoes 'urgent operation', in stable condition FORMER Prime Minister Kar- menu Mifsud Bonnici had to un- dergo an urgent operation yester- day night, but his situation is now stable. Sources told MaltaToday that the operation was successful. Mifsud Bonnici was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital last week, com- plaining about difficulty in breath- ing. He was kept under observation at the Intensive Therapy Unit. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, 80, succeeded Dom Mintoff as Prime Minister between 1984 and 1987, after he was chosen as designate leader of the Labour Party in 1982. He remained Labour leader until 1992, when faced with the second consecutive electoral defeat he chose to step down.

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