MEPA Enforcement Directorate clears ODZ site in Mosta

A large agricultural site, located in Triq il-Lunzjata, along the periphery of Wied il-Ghasel in Mosta, which for years has been used to store illegal scrap material, heavy machinery, tyres and industrial storage containers, was completely cleared over the past days after MEPA’s Enforcement Directorate initiated a direct action operation.

Served with three enforcement notices between 1996 and 1998, the ODZ site, which also included illegally built structures, was not only an eyesore but was becoming a health hazard to residents living in the vicinity of the site.

Although the owners tried challenging MEPA’s enforcement notices a number of times, on all occasions both the Appeals Board and the Maltese Courts ruled in favour of MEPA.     

The Authority decided to carry out this operation after it had repeatedly warned the site owners to fully abide by the enforcement notice and clear out the site. Once the direct action operation commenced, the contraveners requested MEPA to suspend the operation and abide by the enforcement notices.

The Authority consented to their request on condition that all illegalities identified in the respective enforcement notices were removed within a week. MEPA’s enforcement officers regularly carried out site inspections to ensure that works were in hand.

To ensure that no new illegal material enters the site, the Authority reduced the size of the entrance by constructing a boundary wall leaving a walk-through access.

The MEPA Enforcement Directorate was assisted by members of the Administrative Law Enforcement Section.

Over the coming weeks, the Authority will continue to intensify its direct action operations against illegalities which impinge on neighbouring residents or negatively impact sites of environmental or heritage value.