The NGO said it did not approve of the fact that long overdue maintenance work on stormwater channelling to the sea had been undertaken without the prior consent of Mepa.

In addition, Nature Trust said, the work was carried out without the appropriate studies to mitigate its effect on the natural environment as deemed necessary by national law and by the EU Habitat Directive. The NGO had already called for the commissioning of a proper study on how to rehabilitate Malta’s natural valleys as part of a larger scheme to control flooding.

The NGO reminded Cabinet that the habit of bulldozing national and European laws is not acceptable to Maltese and European citizens and urged the Prime Minister to discipline the ministers who publicly justify the brushing aside of both national and European laws, thereby setting a bad example.

Nature Trust said it will follow its report to the European Commission on the breach of the Habitats Directive with reports on the current political attitude towards law enforcement.