Independent election candidate Arnold Cassola and his team have requested an investigation from the Commissioner for Environment and Planning into the case of landfilling on agricultural land in Tal-Barrani, Ghaxaq.

Cassola made the request to the Commissioner for Environment and Planning within the Ombudsman's office on Wednesday, saying that the "illegal case" has been ongoing for the past four years.

Cassola said that the fields that are being landfilled without permission were earmarked in the before-and-after photos taken in 2020, as compared to now.

He also attached photos of how the fields look like from the back, with construction debris, stones and high mounds of soil. Cassola said that the contractor continues to ignore enforcement notices, and even filed a number of appeals.

Cassola noted that from the appeals' minutes, the contractor's lawyer has been failing to attend the hearings, which continue to be postponed each time.

He said that according to his information, the Planning Authority has been informed on the matter since 2020, and had said that it would take action.

Cassola said that since then, several enforcement notices have been issued, but the activity has continued unabated.

He requested an investigation into why the activity has not stopped as requested by the PA, and why the land has not been restored to its original state.

Team Cassola also requested an investigation into what type of waste was being dumped, and if any of it was hazardous waste. He also asked the Commissioner to investigate the environmental impact of the case.

Moreover, he requested an investigation into the impact on the surrounding farmers and asked if there are any farmers who are in any danger, quoting the case of Lunzjata in Rabat, where Cassola had also called on the Commissioner to investigate the "dangerous" backfilling of a quarry in the area.

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