The government may act to remove the illegal campers at Il-Maghluq in Marsaxlokk before the 15-day time limit given in a Mepa enforcement notice, Land Minister Jason Azzopardi told Marsaxlokk local council in a letter today.

He said in a letter to the council that the Commissioner of Land has given his approval so that the necessary action may be taken before the expiry of the 15-day notice imposed by law.

"Therefore, what needs to be done will be done in the coming days by Mepa and the Lands Department," he said.

The council welcomed the minister's declaration as said it expected immediate action to stop the occupation of public land.

The council said that thanks to a new bye law, it would be able to act promptly to ensure that no camps and caravans would be allowed in Marsaxlokk.

Informed sources said the campers will be served with eviction notices on Monday and government action will be taken in the following days unless they comply.

Meanwhile, the Marsaxlokk residents who held a protest on Sunday which sparked the government action, in a statement signed by Jean Claude Micallef, also expressed their appreciation for the government move.