Gujjar Nullah clean-up: 1,700 illegal shops, houses demolished

Anti-encroachment drive to be completed before December this year, says official

KARACHI: As many as 1,700 illegal shops, mini cattle-farms and houses have been demolished during the anti-encroachment operation at Gujjar Nullah.

The drive is being conducted by the anti-encroachment cell of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation in collaboration with District Municipal Corporation of District Central.



“Our hopes are high,” remarked District Central deputy commissioner Fariduddin Mustafa. The operation has been more than satisfactory and we have been able to get rid of a large number of illegal structures, which seemed impossible, he said, adding that it is tough going against the public even if they are breaking the law.

The initial plan is to make the nullah 60 feet wide and a 10-foot-wide road will be built on both the sides of the drain after the drive, he claimed. The 13-kilometre-long nullah flows from North Karachi Sector 11-J and falls into the Lyari River near Sindhi Hotel, Liaquatabad, he added.

The anti-encroachment drive was set to be completed by December, this year, said Mustafa. However, given the pace of the drive it is likely to end earlier, he added.

Speaking about the hurdles during the drive, anti-encroachment cell director Mazhar Khan informed that initially they faced resilience from the residents of the area but ever since the Rangers and police were deployed, the drive has been going on according to the plan.



Commissioner Ejaz Ahmed Khan said that this operation, if completed, will prove to be a major breakthrough for the drainage system of the city. The reason it took so long to initiate the drive is due to the people living near the nullah, he explained.

The government has their hopes high but a similar operation was initiated last year in October and municipal authorities could manage to clear only two kilometres of the nullah. However, the operation was suspended later due to shortage of funds.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2016.