Officials from the Lands Department and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) are removing caravans occupying land without permission near Mellieha Bay Hotel.

The operation started earlier today, with most of the caravans being quickly removed by their owners as soon as the officials, escorted by policemen, arrived.

It is the second such operation this month, after the removal of caravans from private land at Gnejna.

In a related operation, officials from the Lands Department and the Malta Tourism Authority this morning started a series of spot checks at Ghadira among holders of encroachment permits in order to ensure that conditions are being observed.

A spokesman said the aim of the exercise was to help the permit holders understand the conditions of their permits, and to respect them.

For example, he said, the owners were being told exactly up to what distance they could set up tables and chairs on the beaches.

Those who had a permit to rent umbrellas were being told that the umbrellas could only be set up once they had been rented, not before.