Mepa in crackdown on several illegal dumps

The planning authority has removed derelict cars, building material, a wooden room and a hunting hide from a number of localities in a crackdown on illegal dumping over the past two weeks.

Enforcement officers swooped down on two fields that were being illegally used as depots, in an area known as Il-Ħotob in the limits of Qormi, and had it cleared of scrap vehicles, building material and a concrete platform.

Meanwhile, in Żabbar, more derelict cars and parts were removed from the rooftop of a VRT garage in a residential area, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority said.

Nearby, Mepa also carried out an extensive operation to remove large quantities of building and other scrap material from St Nicholas Sqaure, an undeveloped open space within Żabbar.

From two adjacent fields in an outside development area known as Ta' Sansajna in the limits of Birżebbuġa, the authority removed a wooden room, a hunting hide and an illegal boundary wall which was being used to cordon off a field.

In Wied Babu, limits of Qrendi and at another site in the limits of Żurrieq, enforcement officers removed large quantities of illegally dumped building material including a derelict caravan and skips.

Besides that, Mepa said it had also closed off a vacant site which was being used as a maintenance depot for yachts in a residential area and confiscated equipment from a garage which was illegally operating as a commercial car wash. It did not name these localities.