Moviment Graffitti has reiterated its position that it is against any form of large-scale land reclamation that may be planned for the locality of Xgħajra and the surrounding coast.
Recent news reports have said that leaks from an Environment Authority Report regarding potential land reclamation sites show that Xghajra would be the area selected for a land reclamation project. The announcement sparked concern from Xghajra residents.
In a statement today, Moviment Graffitti said that any form of land reclamation will have devastating and irreparable impacts on the natural coast, the sea and its eco-system, as well as on residents and workers in the area.
"Many other people and entities have spoken out against this land reclamation, with James Grixti, secretary of the National Fisheries Cooperative warning of a major socio-economic catastrophe" if the land reclamation were to take place, as this would have a direct impact on the livelihood of fishermen in the area and beyond, due to the massive loss of fishing grounds. Maltese fishermen are already restricted by activities such as oil bunkering, tuna pens, and other coastal activities, and this will only contribute to limiting the access to the sea."
"The sea has its own diverse eco-system which contributes to the regeneration of said sea, and land reclamation would have a directly negative impact on this fragile eco-system which we so rely on. "
Xgħajra residents have also spoken out against this issue. "In a packed hall in Xgħajra, the residents made it clear that they are against any form of land reclamation which will change the natural coast in this area. Not to mention the threat of commercialization to the relatively pristine coastline between Xgħajra and Marsascala. "
"One cannot speak about the issue of land reclamation without mentioning the proposed Gozo tunnel, and other massive projects such as the db Group tower on the former ITS site in Pembroke, Corinithia's 12 tower blocks in St.Julian's, as well as the Mistra project which will produce tons of construction waste, which is why this land reclamation is needed in the first place." Moviment Graffitti is strongly against these massive projects, "which will clearly only benefit the owners, while destroying Malta's precious environment along the way." Moviment Graffitti states that the people and the environment must come first.
from The Malta Independent http://bit.ly/2UAbiLX
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