The Malta Transport Authority has been instructed by Austin Gatt, Minister for Communications and National Projects, to order the re-instatement of any road or pavement in which works may have been undertaken by any local council or person without the necessary permits.

The re-instatement is to be made within a fixed period, not exceeding 30 days, failing which a fine of e100 per day will be charged.

The directive follows an issue between the MTA and Zebbug local council in Gozo, where pavement extension works were carried out in Marsalforn without the MTA's permits. Earlier this week the MTA told the council to reinstate the footpaths according to their original alignment and condition.

According to the minister's directive the MTA should immediately alert the Commissioner of Police and instruct him immediately to stop any illegal works going on. The authority is not allowed to enter into any talks about the works with whoever started them until the road or pavement has been restored to its original state.

Neither will the authority be allowed to entertain any other application by whoever is responsible for illegal works until the re-instatement has been made. The authority may itself do the re-instatement, at the expense of the local council or person concerned.