Notices affixed to property seeking sanctioning of illegal development should be printed in red, and not green like ordinary development applications, Din l-Art Ħelwa has proposed.

“In this way the public can be made aware that an illegal action has taken place on the site and that its owner, by applying for sanction, has admitted to abuse,” it said.

The environment NGO said it was concerned with the increasing number of illegal developments taking place on public land and in other areas, in particular the countryside and the coast.

“Din l-Art Ħelwa is concerned about the lack of enforcement action taken by the authorities in proportion to the illegalities committed and urges government to step up its resources to curb the rise in abuse,” it said in a statement.

It called on Mepa to publish statistics on reported abuse, enforcement action taken, and how many sites, if any, were returned to their natural state.

This free-for-all mentality only incites further lawlessness

It added that Mepa should publish all development applications requesting sanctioning of building illegalities on a separate public listing both on its website and in the media.

“New planning regulations that have been proposed, in particular those eliminating Schedule 6 of the current Environment and Development Act, are only being promoted by the authorities to curry favour with the development lobby and to fulfil electoral promises.”

Schedule 6, a critical clause in the current Act of 2010 strictly forbids sanctioning of illegalities in Outside Development Zones but the government, through Mepa, said it intended to do away with it, in a clear demonstration of its intention to support those guilty of illegality even in protected areas, DLĦ said.

“This free-for-all mentality only incites further lawlessness and encourages more people to abuse the system while making a mockery of those law-abiding citizens who do not.”