Fined €100,000 for illegal quarry extension

Carmel Azzopardi, of Xaghra, Gozo, was today fined €100,000 after being convicted of illegally excavating a quarry extension near San Lawrenz, Gozo. A court heard that Mepa in April 1998 issued a stop and enforcement notice calling on Mr Azzopardi to stop excavating rock from part of a quarry where no further excavation was allowed. But the work continued. Mr Azzopardi then submitted an application to Mepa to sanction the extension of the quarry. However no permit was issued. Mr Azzopardi denied responsibility for the administration of the quarry and said he had obeyed the Mepa instructions. The court, however, noted that it was Mr Azzopardi who had applied to sanction the extension of the quarry. The court ordered him to refill, within three months that part of the quarry which was excavated illegally. Failure would incur a daily fine of €60.