Drains cleared of encroachments

Choked drains led to flash floods during monsoon, causing huge financial losses to residents

ABBOTABAD:

All line departments, including the Cantonment Board Abbottabad (CBA) have cleared natural ravines and drains encroachments.

These choked drains had caused flash floods during the recent monsoon rains, resulting in huge financial losses to cantonment residents. During the anti-encroachment operation in the last three weeks, several natural ravines and drains were cleared. These nullahs were choked by plastic bags and waste material for the last several years.

Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad Nadeem Nasir vowed to continue the operation in Cantonment and in the municipal area until all encroachments were removed. He said that 385 illegal structures of houses were removed during the last three weeks besides demolishing 197 retaining walls and 45 occupied shops.

Read Pakistan sets 'new world record' by planting over 50,000 saplings in 60 seconds

Similarly, he said, 22 illegally constructed pedestrian bridges were also removed during the operation. CBA Chief Executive Officer Ammara Ammar said that the anti-encroachment drive was in full swing in the cantonment areas under a comprehensive plan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2021.