Reports by environmentalists of illegal refreshment stands springing up in Akamas need to be verified, the interior ministry said on Monday.

“The Paphos district administration will visit the spots where the illegal kiosks and other structures have been reported to determine if the plots are within the beach protection zone,” interior ministry spokeswoman Margarita Kyriacou told the Cyprus Mail.

The move follows statements from environmental NGO Terra Cypria last week of two illegal refreshment stands in Akamas and the lengthy processes in place to deal with illegal structures.

According to the ministry, the local district authorities are able to intervene, to restore and demolish or remove any illegal structures or materials.

Should the makeshift structures be determined to be located outside the beach protection zone, then the matter must be taken up by the Paphos district administration (EOA) and the local authority, the department said.

Two illegal refreshment kiosks were reported by Terra Cypria to have sprung up within the Natura 2000 Network area on Friday.

Pictures and footage published by Phileleftheros showed a container-kiosk on stilts and wheels in a flattened space with two sun umbrellas in concrete blocks, as well as a plank and log pathway leading to the beach.

“The authorities have all means at their disposal to take immediate action here, there is no need for a drawn-out procedure,” Terra Cypria executive director Kyriaki Michael told the Cyprus Mail on Monday.

“The beach protection zone is not the main criterion [for demolition], lack of a proper permit is,” she said.

It is understood that beach protection zone legislation governs all the island’s beaches and safeguards their public access. The zone sets a distance from the water line in which no private construction of any type is permitted, including patios, kiosks, fences or paving.

“Temporary structures by law require a permit, just as permanent ones do. They are also subject to approval by the environment department. Unless these are in place, the structures are illegal and they must immediately be removed to prevent disturbance and threat to habitat and species–on top of that already caused by their construction,” Michael said.

Terra Cypria said the kiosks are located within a special area of conservation (SAC) strictly protected under the EU Habitats regulations, and in a special [bird] protection area (SPA).