After a report concerning slurry dumped on crops in an Mgarr field that appeared in The Malta Independent, the Parliamentary Ombudsman has requested the health and environment commissioners to look into what led to the unbearable stench of sewage which engulfed the locality, as was described by individuals who spoke to this newsroom last week.

The Ombudsman had already kickstarted an investigation into a number of slurry reports filed in the past months, including in Gozo and had started off by requesting the environment commissioner and the health commissioner to look into such reports. This happened back in June.

Now, following the Mgarr report which appeared in The Malta Independent, the Ombudsman told this newsroom that he was unaware of what was going on in Mgarr and after this newsroom brought the case to light, commissioners who fall under his remit, have been requested by him to investigate further.

Last week, this newsroom reported that residents who phoned our offices claimed that there was an unbearable stench of sewage in the hill leading to San Andrea School in Mgarr, Malta.

This newsroom immediately sent questions to the Health Ministry and in turn the ministry sent out environment health inspectors to investigate.

It resulted that slurry had been dumped on crops in a number of fields in Mgarr, the ministry confirmed with this newsroom.

The ministry said that the next thing that would be done is that tests on crop samples lifted by the inspectors would be conducted. The ministry also urged the public to continue to reports such cases.

A number of experts reportedly had said that they were concerned that slurry dumped on agricultural land could lead to food borne illnesses.

Another report received by this newsroom but this time concerning a field in Gozo, near Lidl Supermarket on the outskirts of Victoria, was followed up by this newsroom and published in last Sunday's edition of The Malta Independent on Sunday.

Speaking to this newsroom the Ombudsman, Joseph Said Pullicino, said that after having read our reports on the slurry dumped on agricultural land discovered in certain localities, his office immediately followed up the issue by appointing two commissioners which fall under his remit, to investigate further.

He said that he not only wants to safeguard the health of citizens but also wanted to ensure that crops are safe too and in turn would be safe to eat.

The Ombudsman highlighted that once the reports are concluded, he would hand them to the minister concerned.

"If any irregularities are found, the Ombudsman will advise the ministry on the steps it should take while also helping it find a solution to the problem," he said.

It is normal practice for the Ombudsman to feel free and to set up an investigation where his office deems fit, which is one conducted separately from investigations conducted by other authorities concerned.

But in the event the Ombudsman's report falls on deaf ears, the Ombudsman has the power to go a step further and present the report to both the prime minister and parliament.