The tradition of farming is currently under threat in Malta and Gozo, with the new development zones eating away at the already limited supply of arable land, Labour leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference in Burmarrad, Dr Sant claimed that the government’s proposed plans to construct a giant 40-foot storm water canal right through arable land in the area was another nail in the coffin of the farmers who have worked this land for generations.
He said that the government should construct the canal along the same lines as the British did almost 100 years ago, as this route follows the original watercourse.
Dr Sant said that Burmarrad is one of the classic farming areas in Malta and Gozo and should be preserved accordingly. He called on the government to rethink its plans and pass the canal through a more sensible area that will have the least impact on farming.
Labour Agriculture and Fisheries spokesman Noel Farrugia said that, according to the original plans submitted by the Resources and Infra-structure Ministry, two side streets of around 16 feet wide were to be constructed alongside the canal, but this plan had eventually been shelved.
However, the ministry’s new proposal was now much worse, as it involves passing a gigantic concrete structure straight through prime agricultural land, severely impacting upon the farmers in the area and their livelihood, he added.
Mr Farrugia said that there should be a concerted plan to deal with storm water flooding, with unfinished projects such as Chadwick Lakes completed, eventually lessening the impact on Burmarrad. He pointed out that water comes straight from the Dingli promontory, reaching alarming levels by the time it gets to Burmarrad, with severe adverse effects on the farmers who work the land.
Dr Sant spoke with several farmers and reiterated Labour’s support for their concerns regarding the canal.
In a counter-statement, the Resources and Infrastructure and the Rural Affairs and Environment Ministries pointed out that the project had been started following complaints by farmers after the September 2003 floods.
Malta had obtained European Union funds to invest in the project. The Resources and Infrastructure Ministry had planned a route that respected the natural flow of the water so as to cause as little damage as possible.
The plans proposed to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority are still pending. The ministry had also carried out an environment impact assessment.
The farmers complaining about the project are the same ones that had made requests for compensation amounting to more than Lm100,000.
The government is committed to find a balance between agricultural and social interests, the statement concluded.