Updated 3.20pm

Activists kept Infrastructure Malta from entering ODZ land in Dingli again on Tuesday when the latter returned to continue works on a controversial road that will involve the uprooting of century-old trees.

On Monday, activists could be seen confronting workers manning heavy machinery who had started razing the land, despite not having a full permit to do so, according to NGO Moviment Graffitti.

Activists camped on-site throughout Monday night and staved off further destruction when workers returned on Tuesday morning. 

Workers eventually left the site and returned in the afternoon to have another go at resuming works, using chainsaws to cut down trees. Activists again resisted the push and workers eventually retreated, lowering concrete barriers to block off one access point before leaving the area. 

Shortly before 4pm on Tuesday, activists were celebrating victory.

"The machinery is being dismantled," Graffitti posted on its Facebook pate. "It looks like we have stopped the works in Dingli! Thank you to all the activists and residents who joined us in the fight against environmental destruction."

They said they would remain onsite for as long as necessary and challenged Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg and Infrastructure Malta CEO Fredrick Azzopardi to show up onsite and defend the works themselves.

Mystery over 'competent authority'

Police officers and Transport Malta officials were onsite as workers removed vegetation. But as activists demanded to see Lands Authority clearance papers authorising the works, both entities seemed eager to distance themselves from the works. 

“We are not the competent authority, so we cannot stop works,” a police officer told a Times of Malta journalist. 

“It’s not us either,” a Transport Malta official continued. “I don’t know who it is.”

'There is no logic to this destruction'

“They came again early this morning and returned, and we are going to stay here as long as need be to protect the land,” Andre Callus, spokesperson of NGO Moviment Graffiti told Times of Malta.

“There is no logic to this destruction. They are going to destroy arable land and century-old trees to build a road that goes nowhere,” he said.

Callus said that, in light of this, there were fears that the road was the precursor to other developments that would serve other interests.

A worker carries away chopped-down tree branches, as another looks on, chainsaw in hand. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

One of the activists who arrived at the site early that morning, Ruth Chircop said that she had taken some time off work and would continue to do so throughout the week to try and do her bit to protect the land.

“I wanted to show solidarity with the farmers and the activists. This is our land, our country and I feel I need to stand up for it,” Chircop said.

Shortly before 4pm on Tuesday, activists were celebrating victory.

"The machinery is being dismantled," Graffitti posted on its Facebook pate. "It looks like we have stopped the works in Dingli! Thank you to all the activists and residents who joined us in the fight against environmental destruction."

The proposed road attracted environmental protests in October 2020, when workers turned up in Daħla tas-Sienja to build a road that will connect the alley to San Ġwann Bosco Street.

Earlier this year, the Environment Resources Authority shot down a request to protect carob trees that will face the chop as a result of the project.

Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina