The Lahore district administration has prepared an action plan to eliminate encroachment on the city’s main roads to curb pollution and smog caused by increasing traffic problems.
However, the land cleared of encroachers earlier is already being occupied again.
The Anti-Encroachment Squad will work under the supervision of assistant commissioners and include zonal officers from the metropolitan corporation, traffic police and Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) officers.
The campaign has been planned as the provincial capital topped the list of cities affected by pollution and smog. Road traffic is among the major factors contributing to the smog.
Traffic problems in the city are increasing mainly due to encroachment and unplanned construction activities.
Deputy Commissioner Omar Sher Chatha has formulated the action plan to eliminate encroachment from the city, which will be supervised by the assistant commissioners. The teams will include the zonal officers, traffic police and LWMC officials. The plan has been approved by the Lahore Commissioner Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman.
Work to eliminate encroachment will begin immediately and important roads of the city have been surveyed for the purpose.
Under the plan, encroachments will be removed in the city tehsil from Sheikhupura Road to Sagyan Bridge and onward to the district courts, from Shahdara Bridge to Ravi Bridge and Greater Iqbal Park, and from Chauburji to Scheme Mor. In the cantt tehsil, the area from Ferozepur Road to Defence Junction on Walton Road, Zarrar Shaheed Road, Bihar Shah Road, Airport, Bedian Road, Bhatta Chowk and surrounding areas along with the Ring Road will be cleared of encroachment.
The anti-encroachment operation will be carried out in Model Town tehsil along Ferozepur Road, Kana Kacha, Chauburji Chowk, Gulberg Main Boulevard and Gurumangat Road and in Shalimar tehsil from Ali Road to China Scheme, Jallu Mor to Wagah border and service roads, as well as from Canal Bank Road to BRB Canal.
The present government after coming to power had had carried out operations against encroachment in Lahore along with other districts. Action was launched in Shah Alam and inner-city markets were traders had occupied government land, including corridors, and built shops. The encroached area was retrieved from illegal occupation.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2021.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ