The planning authority yesterday removed an illegal dump along the Xgħajra coast created as a decoy for migrating birds.

A waterproof membrane under the dumped material led enforcement officials to believe the site was created to trap rain water and serve as a watering pool for birds.

In a statement, the authority said the stretch of coast between Xgħajra and Marsascala where the dump was found was “heavily frequented” by bird hunters.

The material was spread over an area measuring almost half a tumulo in a site known for its pristine maritime garigue habitat. It is also very close to coastal towers built by the Knights and the British.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority said its officials, helped by the police Administrative Law Enforcement section, removed the dumped material with the help of a crane.

All necessary precautions were taken to ensure the operation did not compromise the integrity of the site, which is considered to be of ecological and military heritage importance.

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