Munxar residents are up in arms after a manure clamp (a place used for the management and storage of manure) is scheduled to begin operating this week in spite of the detrimental effect it could have on the surrounding community.

Sources told this newspaper that no planning application has yet been filed for a change of use of the area, formerly a cattle farm in Triq Zgħawri, to start functioning as a manure clamp.

Contacted by The Malta Independent on Sunday, a resident was dismayed that the project is scheduled to begin operating, after the private owner informed the local council and the residents that the clamp will start functioning next Wednesday, despite the lack of proper permits.

This was particularly troubling, the resident explained, as truckloads of manure will pass through the village square every day as there is only one road that leads to the site and will undoubtedly pose environmental and health risks to the community.

A source claimed that the private operator is at liberty to charge different rates to different clients, something which the source says will create a culture of favours and unfair competition.

This newspaper was previously informed that the majority of farmers in Gozo have already signed an agreement to begin using the provision of manure service.

The source also alleged that the government passed the buck on proper animal waste disposal to the private operator in order to wash its hands of the issue, as illegal dumping into the sea and sewer systems had become too difficult to control.

Last March, when the newsroom was first informed about the clamp, Munxar Mayor Carmen Said told this newspaper that “the executive secretary of the local council had informed the council that he had been contacted by two separate individuals, who wished to remain anonymous but wanted to pass on information to the council about plans to create a manure clamp in Triq Zgħawri.

“The council decided to obtain information from the Planning Authority and to request a meeting with [former] Gozo Minister Dr Anton Refalo,” the mayor explained. “The meeting with the Minister has not yet been held, while the Planning Authority has replied that it does not have any applications in respect of this matter.”

In March 2016, the government launched a Farm Waste Management Plan to ensure the optimal use and treatment of manure produced in farms.

Leo Brincat, who was Environment Minister at the time, said that the government agency will be up to monitor and manage farm waste generated in Malta, and would be opened by the end of 2016.

It is as of yet unknown whether or not this agency has been opened.

The Waste Management Plan unveiled covers a period of 15 years, and was described as a new chapter which will help the agricultural sector which will abolish the mentality of disposing animal waste in sewers while reducing pollution by greenhouse gases.

There were also plans to launch schemes and grants to encourage farmers to generate electricity from animal waste.

It is also unknown at whether these plans are scheduled to come to fruition.

Minister for Gozo Justyne Caruana was sent questions by this newsroom replies were not forthcoming in time for publication.

Efforts were also made to contact Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Clint Camilleri but he could not be reached.

Nationalist Party calls for warrant of prohibitary injunction

Nationalist Party MP has publically called on the lawyer of the Munxar, Gozo local council to file a warrant of prohibitory injunction so that the manure clamp does not become operational this coming Wednesday. In comments to this newsroom, Stellini said that is not just an issue of health and a lack of planning, but the issue of safety comes into play. He described how the August heat could cause the bowser to explode. He called for the clamp to be located away from a residential area.

Local councillors are being contacted to host an urgent meeting tomorrow morning to discussthe issue of a warrant of prohibitory injunction.