The planning authority was this morning stopped from continuing with an operation to remove tons of illegally dumped material in agricultural fields in Birzebbuga by a provisional court order.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) started cleaning the fields, in an ODZ area known as Ix-Xerriek, yesterday after several warnings were ignored by the contravener.

The enforcement operation, expected to last a number of days given the extent of the illegality and to ensure that the agricultural fields, which had been turned into an illegal scrapyard, were returned to their original state was cut short by the provisional court order which followed the request to the court by the contravener’s lawyer.

The dumped material includes large quantities of scrapped cars, trucks, white goods and tyres. The operation started with the removal of material blocking access to a country lane that leads to the fields. The site also forms part of a larger area which is scheduled for its archaeological importance.

Mepa’s Enforcement Directorate were being assisted by members of the Administrative Law Enforcement.

Earlier this week, the authority carried out enforcement action on a vacant site within a residential area in Triq William Lassell in Fgura. Over the past year this site has been subject to an accumulation of illegal dumping to the detriment of residents living in the vicinity of the site.

This enforcement action was carried out in agreement with the local council through Urban Improvement Funds allotted to Fgura.

When the Authority recuperates the expenses of this action from the site owner, the funds will be refunded.