Land retrieved from encroachers

People had established nurseries along Soan River

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) officials said that 80 kanals along Soan River was recovered from the encroachment mafia.

The land was allegedly encroached by Chaudhry Naseer and his accomplices where they had illegally set up nurseries.

ACE Director Kanwal Naqvi oversaw the anti-encroachment operation that was conducted with the help of a heavy police force.

The district administration also sealed Rabi Centre on Murree Road as it was a tax defaulter of more than Rs50 million.

Encroachment on Soan River Bank has caused urban flooding threat. According to a report compiled by the revenue officers of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, about 1,000 kanals of state land along the Soan River in Lohi Bher has been encroached on by locals and housing societies.

According to a report compiled by the revenue officers of the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA), about 1,000 kanals of state land along the Soan River in Lohi Bher has been encroached on by locals and housing societies.

The issue came into the notice of the ICT administration after the Federal Flood Commission reported about the encroachments on the riverbeds.

The report said there had been significant floodplain encroachments in the form of commercial and residential buildings and infrastructure on the left of the river, which was likely to hinder the flow of water during high flow conditions, leading to the inundation of adjoining areas and extensive damage to lives and public and private infrastructure.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2020.