Four environmental NGOs, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth, Ramblers and Graffitti, along with residents from all over Malta and Gozo whose homes have been affected by the government’s Rationalisation Plans, last week filed a court case against the SEA Audit Team, the Minister for the Environment and MEPA.

In their writ, the plaintiffs maintained that the Parliamentary motion of 26 July 2006, by virtue of which substantial tracts of land became developable, was not legal and thus, null and void as the SEA Audit team had erred in exempting the so-called “rationalisation” exercise from the requirements of the SEA Directive. Such an exemption could never have been granted as the “rationalisation” exercise was not initiated before 21 July 2004. In addition, any such exemption should have been granted on a case-by-case basis and not en bloc.

Moreover, the Minister for the Environment approved the local plans after 21 July 2006 without obtaining exemption from the SEA Directive, thus, rendering null and void such approval.

Finally, the court was requested to order MEPA not to approve development permits in those areas that have been rendered developable as a result of the aforesaid Parliamentary resolution and the approval of the Local Plans as long as the provisions of the SEA Directive are not adhered to.

The case, no 75 of 2007, will be heard by Judge Anna Felice.