The Malta Environment and Planning Authority stepped up its efforts over the past weeks to curb illegal development across the islands by carrying out a number of direct action operations in seven localities.

The operations, by Mepa's Enforcement Unit, included the demolition of an illegal extension to a guesthouse in Qala and the removal of over 180 truckloads of illegally-dumped material from Attard, Rabat and Luqa.

Mepa also stopped the operation of an illegal yard in Għaxaq, cleared abandoned vehicles from a field in Qormi and removed an unsightly metal structure used as a store for an adjacent shop.

At Tal-Barrani Road, near Bir id-Deheb, limits of Għaxaq, the authority demolished a number of illegal walls and concrete flooring and stopped the operation of an illegal yard being used to store heavy vehicles. During this operation, enforcement officers also removed scrap and dumping material from the site.

In Qala, the enforcement team stepped in to demolish an illegal extension constructed at the back of a guesthouse. Although a stop and enforcement notice was issued last February, the owner continued works without a permit, Mepa said. Midway through the operation, Mepa officials had to stop after the owner of the guesthouse sought a warrant of prohibitory injunction from the Gozo court. Last Friday, in the Magistrates' Court, the owner admitted that works carried out were illegal and was prepared to continue removing the illegal structure.

In another operation, which lasted four days, the authority removed over 110 truckloads of material illegally dumped on agricultural land along the Mrieħel Bypass.

In a similar operation in Tal-Virtù, limits of Rabat, pristine agricultural land was returned to its original state when over 35 truckloads of debris were removed from the area of high landscape value.

In two sites, outside development boundaries in Luqa and Qormi, Mepa cleared dumping material and a derelict old bus and cars.

It also cleared over 20 illegal billboards from along various arterial and other main roads such as Tal-Barrani, Luqa, Marsa, Paola, Fgura, Mrieħel Bypass and Tal-Balal.