The residents of San Ġwann, L-Iklin, Ħal Għargħur and Ħal Lija, who live in the vicinity of the Bitmac plant, have been filing repeated complaints regarding the inconveniences and pollution they have been suffering, which include unbearable smells and dust pollution, ADPD-The Green Party said Saturday.

It remains unacceptable that the operators of the asphalt plant have no consideration of the residents, whose lives and health are being negatively affected. Equally unacceptable is the fact that the authorities close a blind eye to this situation. 

ADPD-The Green Party Chairperson, Sandra Gauci, said that it is unacceptable that the authorities keep renouncing their obligations and reneging on their responsibilities. Priority needs to be given to people’s health above any commercial interest, without any further delay. Our institutions have to be proactive. Passing the buck and providing silly excuses is not acceptable. 

The polluter has the duty to take every necessary precaution to mitigate plant emissions and pollution. The commercial entity has the responsibility to minimise inconveniences to citizens who have the right to enjoy a decent quality of life. The owners of Bitmac are obliged to provide proof that their industrial activity is not endangering residents’ health, and to take all necessary precautions in this respect.

Gauci asked, “Why the dragging of feet? What is the purpose of our institutions if they are not living up to their respective remits, by protecting the environment and people’s health? It is a cause for great concern that one of Bitmac’s owners was a canvasser of an ex-Minister from the eighth district.”

Whilst we express our solidarity with the residents of the affected areas, ADPD affirms that Bitmac’s operations are to be halted forthwith, to be re-evaluated once all necessary studies are undertaken to identify the measures required to prevent damage to residents’ health, Gauci concluded.