Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation unveiled the start of firm legal measures against the violating companies along desert roads after the end of the deadline given to them by the public authority for the development of agricultural projects in its June meeting under Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab.

The time limit was given to them to settle their conditions and pay the state’s dues, the ministry said in a statement.

The state will not abandon its dues and will strictly apply the law on all violators, the statement asserted.

The ministry and other bodies concerned are surveying violations on the desert roads of Cairo-Alexandria, Cairo-Ismailia and Cairo-Suez, the statement said, adding that the violations will be presented to the cabinet to take decisions over them.

The statement said that the authority started checking the sites of the violating companies along desert roads that changed the lands' activity from being agricultural to residential.

The authority has warned 350 investors and 650 violating companies.

The first stage of settling problems with the violators aims at collecting 35 billion pounds after raising the fine on land violations to 500 pounds for each cubic meter.

Violating lands along desert roads total 2.968 million feddans owned by 650 companies and 350 businessmen.