Authorities need to enforce legislation to close down the illegal kiosks that have sprung in Akamas’ Natura 2000 network area with immediate action, the federation of environmental NGOs (Opok) said on Thursday.

The NGO stressed that the delay in acting the matter would “imply tolerance and give the right to the offenders to speculate at the expense of the natural environment”.

They expressed particular concern that the situation could intensify in the run-up to the summer tourist season.

Two of the kiosks, the NGO said, were located on private ground near Lara beach and Toxeftra in the special conservation area Akamas peninsula.

According to Opok, they have informed both the Akamas and Paphos municipality about the illegal refreshment kiosks. Additionally, the Environmental Department had sent two letters urging for immediate removal of the facilities.

The NGO said that particularly the light of the recent environmental offences in Akamas, the operations of the illegal kiosks without state intervention was unacceptable.

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

The interior ministry on Monday told the Cyprus Mail that the Paphos district administration would conduct investigations in the area to examine whether the plots were located in the beach protection zone.