The south is Malta's rubbish dump

With reference to Andrea Mangion's letter Positive Moves On Waste Management (January 27), I wish to point out that Marsaxlokk and the rest of the south have become the rubbish dumps of Malta.

The residents of this village have, for more than 13 years, been inhaling toxic fumes and suffering from an alarmingly high rate of respiratory ailments due to the proximity of the Delimara power station.

The outflow from the power station into Il-Ħofra ż-Żgħira has also destroyed the Poseidonia meadows which used to grow there, thereby harming the underwater ecosystem.

No independent survey was ever carried out to study the adverse effects on health due to the power station's emissions. The government has introduced a polluter pays principle for road vehicles, and yet it is the government itself which is by far the biggest polluter in Marsaxlokk, because no filters or scrubbers were installed in the chimney stacks.

According to this principle, the government, therefore, owes Marsaxlokk compensation for 13 years of pollution.

Everyone wishes the best of health for themselves and their children.

Therefore, since we in Marsaxlokk have been giving more than our fair share, by suffering from the presence of the power station for the past 13 years, I advise Ms Mangion to do something positive and request that the incinerator be built in Siġġiewi.