Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party

www.alternattiva.org.mt

P.O. Box 38, Marsa, MTP1001



PR 1-12-2012

Water: Malta requires sustainable policies



In a press conference near the Malta Resources Authority, Alternattiva

Demokratika – The Green Party, said that Malta requires sustainable water

policies so as to avoid massive problems in the years to come.



Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: "Scientific advice by experts such

as those within the Malta Water Association should be taken seriously by

the Government. As things stand, Malta risks become over dependent on

reverse osmosis plants in the years to come due to theft and unsustainable

usage of water from boreholes. Overdependence on water from reverse osmosis

plants will effectively result in a huge increase in the cost of water and

risks to Malta's water supply for example in the case of a marine oil

spill".



"Water – which is a strategic resource of national importance – should be

priced in a realistic way. In the short run, all unregistered boreholes

should be banned. In the longer run, save for some strategic exceptions

such as agriculture, the true price of water should be reflected in its

consumption, where wasteful practices, and not basic use, are to be

penalized. Basic use should be subsidized. The Water Services Corporation

should have full control of all water production, which should then be

redistributed according to the country’s priorities".



Carmel Cacopardo, AD Vice Chairman and Spokesman on Sustainable Development

and Home Affairs stated that notwithstanding the registration of boreholes

in 2008 after more than 4 years access to the water table is still a free

for all. This is not only a known fact but it has also been confirmed by

the EU in a report on the Implementation of the Water Framework Directive

by Malta which report is dated 14 November 2012 [SWD(2012) 379 final]. The

report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council

lambasts Malta for not monitoring adequately private groundwater

abstractions.



This report added Cacopardo, examines in detail the technical aspects of

Malta’s water policies. In addition to the issue of unmonitored groundwater

abstraction AD wishes to focus on two particular points raised by the EU

relative water policy in Malta.



“The first is one of fragmented governance. It is pointed out by the EU

report that both the MRA and MEPA have responsibilities relative to

different aspects of water policy. The report states that the coordination

mechanisms between the two authorities are unclear. The report implies that

this fragmentation is an underlying factor in an unsatisfactory

co-ordination with other authorities, Ministries and Departments relative

to water policy issues. AD has the same opinion and in fact will be

proposing in its electoral programme that an effective way to tackle this

fragmentation is to amalgamate MRA and MEPA in one authority in which the

Environment function has a leading role. Protecting the environment and the

sustainable use of natural resources such as water need to and can be much

better achieved in a consolidated authority.



A second important point raised by the report is the fact that agriculture

in Malta is indicated as exerting a significant pressure on water

resources. This fact should have led to the formulation of a clear strategy

that defines measures whuch can be developed together with the farming

community.



It is clear that having the regulator for resources (MRA) and the

Department of Agriculture as the political responsibility of the same

ministry is impeding the regulator from acting effectively. It is to be

underlined that recently the National Statistics Office has revealed that

agriculture in 2009/10 used over 28 million cubic metres of water which is

much more than previously estimated.”



Carmel Cacopardo concluded by emphasising the need to use in a sustainable

manner all sources of water (rainwater, seawater, groundwater, stormwater

and treated sewage effluent). Unfortuately many reports have been written

but it is clear that there is no political will to move forward.



(EU report dated 14 November 2012 attached)



PR 1-12-2012

Ilma: Malta Ghandha Bzonn Politika Sostenibbli



Michael Briguglio, Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika qal, :

"Il-pariri xjentifici tal-esperti bhal dawk tal-Assocjazzjoni Maltija

tal-Ilma ghandhom jittiehdu bis-serjeta’ mill-Gvern. Malta, minn kif

zviluppaw l-affarijiet s’issa, qeghda fir-riskju li fis-snin li gejjin tkun

tiddependi mill-ilma prodott bil-process tar-reverse osmosis u dan minhabba

is-serq tal-ilma kif ukoll l-uzu mhux sostenibbli tal-ilma mtella

mill-boreholes. Din id-dipendenza fuq l-ilma hekk proditt twassal f’zieda

qawwija fil-prezz tal-ilma kif ukoll f’riskji kemm il-darba jsehh xi

incident marittimu bhal per ezempju wiehed ta’ tniggiz tal-bahar biz-zejt.".



"L-ilma – li hu rizors strategiku ta’ importanza nazzjonali – ghandu jkollu

prezz realistiku. B’mod immedjat ghandhom ikunu pprojibiti l-boreholes

kollha mhux registrati. Fuq perjodu ta’ zmien, hlief ghal eccezzjonijiet

strategici bhall-agrikultura l-prezz reali tal-ilma ghandu jkun rifless

fil-konsum tieghu, fejn prattici halja, u mhux il-konsum baziku, ghandhom

jigu penalizzati. Il-konsum baziku ghandu jigi ssusidjat. Il-Korporazzjoni

ghas-Servizzi tal-Ilma ghandu jkollha taht idejha l-produzzjoni kollha

tal-ilma li ghandu jkun distribwit skond il-prijoritajiet tal-pajjiz."



Carmel Cacopardo, Vici Chairman ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika u Kelliemi

ghall-Izvilupp Sostenibbli u l-Intern qal li minkejja r-registrazzjoni

tal-boreholes fl-2008 wara iktar minn 4 snin kulhadd ghadu jaghmel li jrid

fl-access ghall-ilma tal-pjan. Dan m’huwiex biss fatt maghruf imma issa gie

ikkonferma mill-UE f’rapport dwar l-implementazzjoni tad-Direttiva dwar

l-Ilma minn Malta liema rapport hu datat 14 ta’ Novembru 2012 [SWD(2012)

379 final]. Ir-rapport mill-Kummissjoni lill-Parlament Ewropew u

lill-Kunsill jehodha kontra Malta ghax mhiex qed tghasses b’mod adegwat

dwar estrazzjoni tal-ilma tal-pjan mis-settur privat.



Dan ir-rapport zied Cacopardo, jezamina fid-dettall l-aspetti teknici

tal-politika ta’ Malta dwar l-ilma. B’zieda mal-materja dwar in0nuqqas ta’

ghassa ghall-estrazzjoni tal-ilma tal-pjan Alternattiva Demokratika

tixtieq tiffoka fuq zewg aspetti ohra li dan ir-rapport isemmi dwar

il-politika tal-ilma ta’ Malta.



“L-ewwel punt jirrigwarda l-frammentazzjoni fit-tmexxija ta’ din

il-politika. Ir-rapport tal-UE jghid li kemm l-MRA kif ukoll il-MEPA

ghandhom responsabbiltajiet relatati ghall-politika tal-ilma. Il-mekkanizmi

ta’ korrdinazzjoni bejn iz-zewg awtoritiajiet, jghid ir-rapport, xejn

m’huma cari. Ir-rapport jimplika li din il-frammentazzjoni hija ir-raguni

principali ghax dwar l-ilma m’hemmx koordinazzjoni sodisfacenti ma’

awtoritajiet ohra, jew Ministeri inkella ma Dipartimenti tal-Gvern.

Alternattiva Demokratika hi tal-istess opinjoni u fil-fatt fil-programm

elettorali ser tipproponi li mod effettiv kif tingheleb din

il-frammentazzjoni jkun billi jkunu amalgamati f’awtorita’ wahda l-MRA u

l-MEPA b’mod li l-funzjoni ambjentali tkun f’posizzjoni ta’ tmexxija.

Il-harsien tal-ambjent u l-uzu sostenibbli tar-rizorsi naturali bhall-ilma

jistghu u ghandhom isiru ahjar b’awtorita’ ikkonsolidata.



It-tieni punt ta’ importanza imqajjem mir-rapport u l-fatt li l-agrikultura

f’Malta qed tezercita piz kbir fuq ir-rizorsi tal-ilma. Dan il-fatt, jghid

ir-rapport, messu wassal ghall-formolazzjoni ta’ strategija cara dwar

il-mizuri li jistghu jkun sviluppati flimkien mal-komunita tal-bdiewa.



Huwa car illi l-fatt li r-regolatur dwar ir-rizorsi (MRA) u d-Dipartiment

tal-Agrikultura huma ir-responsabbilta politika tal-istess Ministeru

qieghed izomm lir-regolatur mill-jagixxi b’mod effettiv. Ghandu jkun

sottolineat illi l-Ufficcju Nazzjonali tal-Istatistika zvela li matul

l-2009-10 l-agrikultura uzat il-fuq minn 28 miljun metru kubu ta’ ilma, li

jammonta ghal hafna iktar milli qatt kien stmat.”



Carmel Cacopardo ikkonkluda billi emfasizza l-htiega li jsir uzu

sostenibbli mis-sorsi kollha tal-ilma (ilma tax-xita, bahar, ilma tal-pjan,

ilma fl-apert iggenerata mix-xita, u drenagg ittrattat). Sfortunatament

filwaqt li nkitbu bosta rapporti hu car li ma hemmx ir-rieda politika li

nimxu l-quddiem.



(rapport tal-UE datat 14 ta’ Novembru 2012 anness)

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