Mepa to decide today on bungalows without permits

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is today expected to decide whether to sanction a number of bungalows on the outskirts of Mosta whose owners had only applied to build reservoirs on the land.

In recent days, members of one of Mepa's boards have inspected the sites in person. The authority was meant to decide on the matter last Wednesday but postponed the decision for another week to allow the inspections to take place.

The owners of the four fields had originally filed applications in 2006 to build stables and agricultural reservoirs in an area known as Ħbuliet Moni, where planning laws only allow this sort of development.

But after the applications were approved, the authority was alerted that the reservoirs, stables and pump rooms had been turned into small bungalows complete with lawns and terraces. Enforcement notices were issued and the developers submitted applications to sanction the irregular structures.

NGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar has had its eyes on the project and even commissioned a consultant to review the permits.

When contacted yesterday the consultant, Amadeo Mifsud, stressed that the authority had to be more careful with certain applications, especially those outside development zones, as were these.

"If someone applies to construct a water reservoir, Mepa should question where the water is going to come from," he said.