Over the past days, enforcement officers from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) carried out direct action operations on three large open sites within the locality of Birkirkara and the rural settlement of Bidnija.

In Bidnija, in an ODZ area known as 'Tal-Hireb', the Authority closed off two enforcement cases, whereby adjacent parcels of land were both returned to their original state for agricultural use. The two sites were slapped with enforcement notices after disused vehicles, mechanical parts, ancillary equipment, concrete slabs and large amounts of inert material were illegally placed on site. 

In 2011, after the enforcement notices were issued, one of the site owners had requested planning permission for the deposition of soil and building material on the land. This application had been turned down by the Environment and Planning Commission.

A second direct action operation was carried out at another large open site in Birkirkara which is surrounded by residences. MEPA enforcement officers demolished illegal structures and pigeon lofts and removed unlicensed vehicles and open paddocks. Livestock including horses, ponies, rabbits, chickens and pigeons, which were being kept in these illegal rooms were relocated by their owners under the surveillance of the Animal Welfare Department and vets.

In both instances, the respective owners cooperated fully with the Enforcement Directorate's officials.