Bad for business: With peak season around the corner, traders decry timing of anti-encroachment drive

Accuse authorities of sparing influential businessmen, destroying region.

ABBOTABAD:

The anti-encroachment drive in Nathiagali entered its third day on Monday, facing little resistance from residents.

The Frontier Highway Authority (FHA), with the assistance of the revenue department, has declared over 150 small and big shops and 70 eateries as having encroached.

Over 80% of the occupants have demolished the extended portions of their shops and eateries on a voluntary basis, said locals. However, businessmen remain concerned about the timing of the drive, which they fear is too close to peak tourist season.

Accompanied by heavy contingents of the police, Abbottabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kaneez Sughra, Assistant Commissioner Usama Ahmed Warraich, officials of the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), FHA, and revenue department also participated in the operation.

Following a verdict of the Peshawar High Court and recommendations of the National Accountability Bureau to the provincial government, GDA kicked off its anti-encroachment initiative. In April, the development authority gave shop and business owners 15 days to voluntarily clear government-owned land to avoid direct action by the anti-encroachment squad.

According to DC Sughra, the authorities started the operation on Saturday, demolishing cemented encroachments, measuring four to eight feet, from eateries, guest houses and shops.

During the operation, most of the occupants demolished the encroachments on their own along the roadsides of Donga Gali, Khera Gali, Nathiagali, Toheedabad, Kundla, Moorti and Kooza Gali.

According to DC Sughra, around 70% of encroachments have been demolished and in the next phase, land illegally occupied by government departments and private owners in the Galiyat region will be reclaimed.

Answering a question, the DC rejected the notion that authorities were discriminating in the anti-encroachment drive. “The operation will continue irrespective of the political or economic status of occupants.”

According to official sources, parts of Jamia Masjid Mochi Dhara and a mosque in Nathiagali’s bazaar have been earmarked for demolishing.

Nathiagali Traders Association President Sardar Jeenda Khan accused authorities of sparing cemented structures belonging to “friends” of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan.

He feared the way the operation was under way it would destroy the entire area.

With tourist season around the corner for Galiyat, the anti-encroachment drive was poorly timed, Jeenda said. It should have been launched during the off season to avoid hurting businesses. Following the operation, several shops and eateries have been closed either for renovation or a lack of space to run the business.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2014.