With the new extension to development boundaries, the government is prepared to destroy part of our natural and agricultural heritage, Labour Leader Dr Alfred Sant said yesterday.

Speaking to farmers during a visit to the area known as Tal-Papa in Birzebbugia, Dr Sant said that the land here includes numerous historical artefacts and has been farmed for generations. Yet the government had classified it as land without agricultural and ecological value.

On the other hand, he said that a piece of land close by, that had been marked for development, had been neglected and turned into dumping ground.

Farmers who spoke to Dr Sant said there are over 130 trees including carob and olive trees as well as other endemic species of animals that are protected by environmental laws. There are also a number of air raid shelters which are used for water storage and irrigation purposes.

In a counter-statement, the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministry said that contrary to what Dr Sant was stating, the land proposed for development is not part of the development zones extension but formed part of the Marsaxlokk Bay local plan approved by Mepa in 1995.

It is strange that the MLP never complained about this before, the ministry said.

Technical experts had told the government that the land in question is not arable.

This was not the first attempt by the MLP to give misinformation as it tried to take political advantage of government decisions, the ministry said.