Environment Minister Jose Herrera has acknowledged the magnitude of the noise pollution in Malta, stating that it is "much bigger than (he) originally thought." Herrera was speaking to this newsroom on The Malta Independent's online interview programme Indepth.
Last January, the minister told this newspaper that the legislation by the Commission for Noise Pollution with regards the noise pollution bill will be ready in April of this year. However, at the end of May the bill still remains unseen.
Asked about this, Herrera stated that the bill is ready, and the size of the issue, bigger than originally expected, is what delayed the bill to be issued.
"The law is ready," he said. "It was much more complicated than originally anticipated, because when the commission and the people involved met the stakeholders, the terms of reference for the commission increased, because the noise pollution problem resulted in being much bigger than I originally thought. We wanted to make it as comprehensive as possible."
He continued to say that he cannot divulge the exact date but "it won't be long." Following publication, the document will be shown to the cabinet.
"I will show it to the cabinet as some changes will be quite radical, so I will need the cabinet's affirmation," he said.
Pressed for example of these 'radical changes', Herrera hinted at laws regulating noise pollution for construction sites and commercial establishments.
He added that one aspect not tackled in the bill is noise pollution caused during feasts. "They are a one off," he said, "they are part of our folklore and I don't think it should be addressed within this law."
Last January a Eurostat report showed that Malta ranks first in Europe for suffering the most from noise pollution.
from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2kDmmbh
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment