Farrugia to reconvene parliament’s environment committee on AUM

The chair of the parliament’s environment committee has agreed to reconvene the committee to discuss the site selection for the American University of Malta.

Backbencher Marlene Farrugia, who has vociferously spoken against the abuse of ODZ land, has informed Front Harsien ODZ that she will be setting a date for the meeting.

The Front had written to Farrugia asking her to reconvene the committee in view of the commitment made by MEPA CEO Johann Buttigieg.

Buttigieg had promised the committee he would present the sites considered for the location of the proposed development in an upcoming parliamentary environment committee meeting.  

“Despite the commitment taken by the MEPA CEO, no such meeting was held before the Prime Minister announced that the government had chosen two sites, one within development zones in Cottonera and a site in Zonqor which still includes 18,000 square meters of ODZ land on land designated by the local plan as part of a national park,” the Front said.

Although the government has published a report that refers to all the sites considered by the MEPA CEO’s office, the report has not been submitted to the scrutiny of parliament and civil society as promised by the MEPA CEO.

“We will continue to insist on transparency and scrutiny and the publication of all agreements signed with Sadeen Group. We also reiterate our opposition to the inclusion of ODZ land in Zonqor,” the Front said.

“The project still has to go through a lengthy planning process and environmental studies. We will be demanding full scrutiny of the project at every stage of this process.”