Anti-encroachment: City govt operation extended by two days

Cleared areas to be monitored to prevent encroachers’ return.

LAHORE:

The anti-encroachments drive that was scheduled to end on Tuesday has been extended till April 7 on the directions of Ahad Khan Cheema, the district coordination officer (DCO) of Lahore.

The orders were issued from the DCO office on Tuesday. Cheema said that there was a need to continue the drive in Ravi Town and Data Gunj Bukhsh Town due to a lot of congested streets still encroached.

Cheema asked the respective town administrations to clear all roads from debris of the demolished encroachments by April 10th.

He also directed the town administration to depute a beat in charge in all those areas where the operation had been completed, so that the encroachers did not return.

He said it was the duty of the beat in charge to ensure that the roads remained cleared from the encroachers. In case they returned, the DCO said, the in charge will be held responsible and can also result in expulsion from service.

On the 25th day of the drive, the land revenue claimed to have cleared 453 kanals and 6 marlas of agriculture land worth Rs45.3 million from Babu Sabu.

The town administrations collectively cleared 13.5 km of area by demolishing 627 ramps, two shops, 185 illegal staircases, 173 shades and 17 advertisement boards.

The Wagha Town administration cleared one kilometre of area along Rajba Road, GT Road, and demolished a building and three doors. Shalimar Town operated in Ram Garh Bazaar, Shalimar Link Road and cleared 1.5 km area.

Allama Iqbal town administration operated in Thokar Niaz Baig, Raiwind Road, Chowk Yateem Khana, Bund Road and cleared one kilometre area from encroachers. Data Gunj Baksh Town cleared one kilometre along Bediyan Road, Cooper Road. Nishter town cleared two kilometre area from Green Town. Aziz Bhatti Town cleared 1.5 km of area from Gulistan Colony, Ghaziabad. Samanabad Town cleared two kilometres from Rehmanpura. Gulberg Town cleared 0.5 km from Garhi Shahu, Gaddafi Stadium.

The Lahore Development Authority operated in Allama Iqbal Town, Moon Market, Karim Block Market and cleared four kilometres area.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2011.