A ban has been enforced on construction activities within a 200 feet radius on both sides of the Kunhar River.
According to official sources, this prohibition is in accordance with the River Protection Act, and Section 144 has been invoked, with strict measures promised against any violations under Section 188.
Mansehra Deputy Commissioner Bilal Shahid Rao issued a statement indicating that the construction ban is a result of directives from the Peshawar High Court and the provincial government.
The enforcement of Section 144 will persist for a duration of 60 days, during which actions will be taken against any infringements.
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The Kunhar River, running alongside Kaghan Highway from Balakot to Babusar Top, holds significant importance in the natural beauty of the valley. The implementation of the River Protection Act in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aims to preserve the natural aesthetics of rivers and mitigate the risk of floods. The provincial government's directive prohibits constructions within 200 feet of riverbanks. Section 144 is now in effect around the Kunhar River to uphold this ban and comply with court and government orders.
It is noteworthy that the decision comes in the aftermath of last year's floods, which wreaked havoc on buildings along the Swat River in Swat and at Mahandri in Balakot. The devastating floods in Mahandri's Munawar Nullah resulted in the loss of millions of rupees worth of property along the riverbanks, and several individuals were swept away by the river currents.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2023.
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