Clean-up Campaign: City government claims more gains, provokes protests

CDGL claims to have recovered 41.61 kanal of land worth Rs95.5 million on fifth day of it anti-encroachment campaign.

LAHORE:

The Revenue Department of the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) claims to have recovered 41.61 kanal of land worth Rs95.5 million on the fifth day of it anti-encroachment campaign.

Beside, the administration of nine towns collectively cleared an area of 25.5 kilometers (km) where it demolished 400 ramps, 32 shops, and 202 shades. As many as 147 staircases that were constructed illegally in front of various shops have also been demolished. The department has cleared one kanal and two marla land form Baghbanpura worth Rs10 million. Nine kanal and 11 marlas land worth Rs70 million in Cantonment area and 31 kanals and three marlas land worth Rs15.5 million in the Walled City was cleared.

Wagha Town administration removed encroachers along 2.5 km and bulldozed three illegal staircases along the roadside, 15 shades, 95 ramps, and 10 sign boards.

The Shalimar Town administration cleared 3.5 km and bulldozed 50 ramps, 20 shades, 60 staircases and 40 sign boards; Iqbal Town administration cleared 6 km and bulldozed 20 ramps, 25 shops, 11 shades, four  tandoors, five staircases and 39 sign boards; Data Gunj Buksh Town administration demolished 63 ramps, two shops, 84 shades, 36 staircases and 24 sign boards; Nishtar Town administration cleared two kilometers and demolished 60 ramps and 15 shades; Aziz Bhatti Town administration cleared two kilometers and demolished 70 ramps, and 15 shades; Ravi Town administration cleared two kilometers and demolished three shades, three staircases and 18 ramps; Samanabad Town administration cleared three kilometers and demolished 23 ramps, 27 sign boards, 29 shades, three shops and 40 staircases; and Gulberg Town administration cleared five kilometers and demolished 30 ramps.

The Lahore Development Authority cleared four km and demolished a ramp, two shops, 10 shades and 12 sign boards.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2011.