The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has continued to remove an extensive illegal scrapyard in an ODZ area known as Ix-Xerriek, limits of Birzebbuga, which last week was the cause of a large fire.

Last year, the authority started to remove tons of illegally dumped material from a number of agricultural fields that over the years had been turned into an illegal scrapyard. This was done at the expense of the offender.

The direct action had been cut short after the authority was notified to stop its direct action operations following a mandate that was presented to the Courts by the offender’ lawyer.

Subsequently, the offenders requested the authority to give them a grace period for them to remove all the illegalities. Mepa had acceded to this request on condition that the site achieved removal targets over a specific time-frame.

Although some progress could initially be noted on site, less than 10 per cent of the agreed target was reached. 

Mepa said it reviewed the situation and again initiated direct action at this site to remove the scrapyard. The dumped material includes large quantities of scrapped cars, trucks, white goods and tyres.

The authority’s Enforcement Directorate is being assisted by members of the Administrative Law Enforcement police.

Mepa said it generally sought to reach agreements with offenders to remove the illegal development themselves prior to direct action being taken, at the offenders’ expense. 

It said it was re-evaluating the agreements reached with illegal scrapyard operators to ensure that such agreements were strictly adhered to.  In default, it would proceed with direct action on illegal scrapyards in the coming months.