The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has issued a permit that will allow Infrastructure Malta (IM) to uproot three protected trees so as to carry our work on the controversial Daħla tas-Sienja, Ħad-Dingli, project.
At the start of October, NGO Moviment Graffitti and a group of farmers had taken to Dingli in an attempt to stop the building of a new road which would take up private farmland in the village; “without any permits whatsoever.”
From its end, IM said that as per applicable regulations, no development permits are required for the formation of new roads within development zones that are already included as schemed (planned) roads in the Planning Authority’s local plans, as is the case for the new street between Daħla tas-Sienja and Sqaq il-MUSEUM.
It also mentioned three trees need to be uprooted or transplanted, and they will be replaced with the planting of several other new trees, as per applicable regulations for such requirements. IM submitted an application for a permit from ERA from for this to happen on 1 September (NP 0412/20).
On Tuesday, Moviment Graffiti revealed that ERA approved this application on 9 October, issuing a permit for the uprooting of two carob trees (Ceratonia siliqua) and one pomegranate tree (Punica granatum specimens) as well as the heavy pruning of one carob tree (C. siliqua specimen).
⚠️ BREAKING ⚠️ L-Awtorità għall-Ambjent u r-Riżorsi (ERA) għadha kemm ħarġet permess lill-Infrastructure Malta (IM) biex...
Posted by Moviment Graffitti on Tuesday, 13 October 2020
The permit states that the uprooting shall be carried out without damage to any other existing trees, plants or structures. Additionally, the pruning of the carob tree marked shall be limited to the branches located within the outline of the schemed road; no additional areas of the tree shall be pruned.
As stated by IM, the permit also calls for compensatory planting using medium sized trees of local stock. Compensatory trees shall be planted between September and April and shall be maintained by the permit holder for a period of three years from planting, including necessary aftercare such as watering, weeding and pruning as may be required.
The compensatory trees are not to be used as hedges. Should any of the compensatory trees die within the period specified above, the permit holder shall be bound to replace the said trees within the first planting season with trees of the same species and size and advise ERA of such a replacement.
Should the permitted interventions of this permit result in the premature death of any protected tree within the validity of the permit, the applicant shall compensate with a ratio of 1:10 with indigenous trees.
In their post, Moviment Graffiti said that this is a devastating and meaningless project which residents, farmers and activists are opposing; “the fight continues”.
Apart from the destruction of protected trees, the NGO mentioned the Late Medieval Church of Santa Duminka which can also be found in this area which will be developed.
Dingli residents, farmers and Moviment Graffitti activists have written to Minister for the Environment Aaron Farrugia, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Ian Borg and Minister for National Heritage Jose Herrera requesting their immediate intervention to stop the construction of a planned road on fields in Dingli.
An urgent request was also made to the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the Executive Council of the PA to issue an Emergency Conservation Order for the and its surroundings in Dingli.
These calls have not been answered yet, the NGO said in Tuesday’s post.