Fighting illegal development

I refer to Pamela Hansen's column (The Sunday Times, November 20). The fight against illegal developments is ongoing. It was the Nationalist government that established the legal instruments, as part of the Development Planning Act, to ensure that development takes place in accordance with the development permit.

Over the years, hundreds of illegalities have been removed by owners following the issue of an enforcement notice by MEPA.

Ms Hansen questions individual actions which the Ministry of Rural Affairs and the Environment intends to take in relation to enforcement, particularly outside development zones. What she fails to see is that these various actions should be seen in a holistic manner.

The effect of specific actions on current deficiencies in enforcement may be limited, but taken together it is envisaged that these should effectively resolve them. More importantly, the fight against illegal developments started years ago and the process is now being expedited, thereby making the option of illegal development more of a liability for the developer.

No more details can be given at this stage, even because some proposals will be put to Cabinet for endorsement. The Minister of Rural Affairs and the Environment himself has consistently insisted, and continues to insist, that MEPA is to use all legal instruments available to it, including direct action against illegal development. Enforcement against illegalities is a must as others are to be discouraged from doing the same.

The Appeals Boards' approach so far is excessively legalistic, allowing persons who carry out illegal developments to unduly lengthen procedures. The intention therefore is to have an appeals board specifically for cases relating to illegalities to speed up the process. Amendments to regulations are also being considered, aimed at creating further disincentives against illegal development.