The Environment and Resources Authority showed its teeth on Saturday when it ordered another state entity – Infrastructure Malta – to halt all works being carried out at Wied Qirda in Zebbug because they are not covered by an environmental permit.

The Malta Independent has reported extensively on the environmental damage that IM’s road-widening and surfacing exercise has done to the valley. Last week, IM - the authority that is rebuilding Malta’s roads - insisted that the works carried out inside the protected green area were covered by Transport Malta road work permit.

We questioned the logic behind that statement because, surely, Transport Malta is not the competent authority to decide whether a country lane situated in an area of special conservation should be covered in tarmac. IM made no mention of any environmental permits but defended the project – which has resulted in the uprooting of trees and shrubs and the defacing of one of the valley ridges – by saying it had consulted with stakeholders, including the local council, and there had been no objections.

Like in other similar cases, the agency said it is working to “improve” access to farmers in rural areas.

The issue was also taken up by Transport and Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg, who defended the controversial works in Wied Qirda and other areas of the Maltese countryside.

But this newsroom, the Zebbug council and environmental groups were proved right on Saturday when ERA said the works were illegal and damaging to the environment. It seems that IM workers at first ignored the stop order and the police had to be called in by the ERA officials. In its ‘cease and conform’ order, ERA is telling Infrastructure Malta that the site has to be restored to its original state, and these works, unlike the ones carried out so far, need to be covered by an environmental permit. Should IM fail to do this, daily fines will be imposed until the area is restored.

It is very positive ERA doing its duty and taking action against those who broke environmental laws, even if the latter is another government entity. One now hopes that the roads agency complies fully with the environment regulator and restores the area to how it was before, unless the damage done is irreversible.

We definitely hope that IM does not appeal the ERA order, which would result in more time lost. It is already a pity that a lot of taxpayer euros has been spent on an illegal and environmentally damaging project.

Infrastructure Malta should ditch these plans and lose no time in trying to repair the damage caused. As we said before, there are better ways to improve access to farmers, ways that do not include concrete, tarmac or wider-than-necessary roads.

Moreover, this case should serve as an eye-opener and an example so that no further abuses of this kind take place in our green areas.

ERA is leading by example. Infrastructure Malta should do the same.