"We don't have the luxury to use common sense". This must be the statement of the year, uttered by none other than Andrew Calleja, Mepa Board chairman during a sitting to decide yet another controversial application last Thursday, just one day after the Prime Minister visited Mepa and talked to its officials behind closed doors.

I am sure that the PM's message (read as warning) advocated reason and that common sense should prevail on development decisions. And yet, the following day the head of this beleaguered authority decided otherwise. I cannot imagine any reputable organisation that does not decide on the basis of common sense, and furthermore, admits to it.

Of course, Mr Calleja's outburst must be understood as being a counter-reaction to mounting criticism that the Mepa Board has occasionally stepped out of line and ignored its own policies. In this case, he decided to follow the policies to the word, even if they are absurd, and by his own admission, defy common sense.

The case involves the approval of a pig farm to be constructed immediately adjacent to a group of residences in Magħtab. Ironically, an obsolete veterinary services rule prohibiting the construction of new pig farms at a distance of not less than 100m from another pig farm has resulted in the new pig farm to be constructed closer to the residents' properties than another pig farm. This has prompted the residents to (correctly) remark that they are being treated worse than pigs.

The chairman's comment and actions suggests two things, (1) that he accepted that the objectors' arguments were based on "common sense" and (2) that the Mepa board are ready to sacrifice not only common sense but also the residents' quality of life, and proceed on the basis of absurd policies. I find the matter to be very disturbing, and I would assume that the Prime Minister shares the same sentiments.

To add insult to injury, the veterinary department's head, Anthony Gruppetta admitted that the 100-metre policy did not make sense. So here we have an authority deciding to proceed with the approval of a development application on the basis of an absurd policy and in the face of common sense. Can it get any worse? One would have expected that the nonsensical policy be addressed, and a decision on the development be postponed pending correction of the policy.

In the national interest, I suggest that the 100m policy be removed immediately because it will result in the construction of farms to be dispersed all over the countryside when the policy should actually encourage clustering of farms. I understand that clustering has already been adopted for industrial concerns, garage-type industries and even for cattle farms.

Last year, in a move to remove farms in urban areas, the ex-Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment applied for the construction of a cluster of 18 cattle farms. If it is (socially, logistically, economically and environmentally) advantageous to cluster cattle farms, why not pig farms? My second suggestion is addressed to the Prime Minister. Let common sense prevail at the onset of his new legislature and immediately replace the chairman and the members of the Mepa board with reasonable, independent persons of integrity.