Over 90 illegal structures removed in Kaghan

The officials said that the operation would help widen the road and improve traffic flow

BALAKOT:

Balakot district administration and National Highway Authority (NHA) on Saturday removed over 90 illegal structures on Kaghan Road during on the first day of an anti-encroachment drive.

A number of unauthorised hotels and shops were razed using heavy machinery during the operation in Kawai Paras, Bhonja, Jareed Mahandri, and Phagal in Kaghan valley.

The officials said that the operation was carried out against 93 unauthorised establishments while NHA and district administration intends to remove 573 illegal establishments from Mansehra to Babusar Top. Of these, on top of the list are 129 buildings, including hotels, shops as well as houses, which have already been served notices, will be removed along the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road.

The district administration officials said that in the second phase, an anti-encroachment drive would be conducted from Mansehra to Kiwai and Naran to Babusar Top. The encroachers were initially warned through notices to remove all encroachments besides advertisement in the newspapers.

The officials added that the operation would help widen the road and improve traffic flow.

Mansehra Deputy Commissioner Dr Qasim Ali has said that the first phase of operation will be conducted in areas which are not snow-bound including Lower Kaghan, Kewai, Jared and Mohandri.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2021.