An area of Paceville that had again turned into a dumpsite has been cleared after the issue was flagged by The Malta Independent yesterday.

This newspaper had sent questions to the Malta Tourism Authority, pointing out that a disused area on Dragunara Road had once again become infested will all sorts of rubbish. Although no information about any clean-up operation was provided, the area had been tidied up by yesterday morning.

Back in June The Malta Independent had reported that the area, close to popular clubs and luxury hotels, was full of litter, which even included mattresses and suitcases. Action had been taken and the area was cleared up but this newsroom visited the zone again this week to find that the situation had gone back to square one.

Plastic bottles, pieces of metal, plastic bags and bulky items were strewn everywhere. Workers were seen picking up the litter on Tuesday evening.

The MTA informed The Malta Independent that, enforcement of waste disposal is overseen by the Planning Authority, who allocates this task to the Cleansing Services Directorate. The MTA has zone officers who monitor certain areas and report such cases as the situation in St Julian’s.

An MTA spokesperson told this newspaper that “Questions on inspection timetables in relation to the construction going on in the area must be directed to the Building Regulation Office (BRO). The MTA is informed that the BRO has spoken to all architects and contractors involved in the construction site, in order to adhere with regulations and keep the site clean at all times.  Additionally, the MTA has been in touch with the developers in question, who have asked architects and contractors on site to clean any waste they are generating.”

The spokesperson added that “the MTA works relentlessly in order to promote the correct management of waste. In fact, waste management is part of the ECO certification requirements when it is handed to hotels and farmhouses.”

The spokesperson also spoke about co-ordination and liaison with various stakeholders, entities and authorities, in which Tourism Zone Officers monitors issues in their respective zone. “Officers are constantly on the lookout for maintenance problems in the urban setting of the respective zones. It is not unusual for Officers to request interventions to clear debris or dumping sites.”

 In many instances, Tourism Zone officers instigate interventions to improve the area, on many occasions involving other entities to carry out the work required, the MTA concluded.