Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant has added his voice to the chorus of disapproval against plans by Infrastructure Malta to widen the Mriehel by-pass on agricultural land.

“If what is being said about plans by IM to widen the Mriehel by-pass on agricultural land, then the protests are justified,” the Labour MEP wrote on Facebook.

Farmers have already complained about the plans while President Emeritus Marie Louise Coleiro Preca has also spoken out against the idea.

“We cannot continue with the strategy to widen main roads at the expense of agricultural land, more so in fertile areas such as Mriehel,” Sant said.

Traffic should not dictate use of the land which is still not developed, if we want to boast how we appreciate our identity and environment, he added.

Infrastructure Malta should be more transparent and accountable for its projects, Sant said.