Tourism hit as Khanpur Dam groups clash

A clash between two groups on tax collection and parking boats on jetties at Khanpur Dam left seven people wounded on Thursday, giving another blow to tourism activities.

Sources told The Express Tribune that two groups clashed over the parking of boats on the jetties, resulting in seven injuries. The former president of the boat association and his sons were attacked by the supporters of the president appointed by the district government, after which the situation turned tense.

The injured were referred to the Haripur Trauma Center. Both parties filed applications against each other at Khanpur police station.

The alleged facilitation of the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) authorities to one group on Khanpur Dam continues and the situation has become tense nowadays.

Sources said that where the tussle between the federal and provincial institutions is going on regarding the tax collection on Khanpur Dam, the TMA Haripur is deliberately facilitating illegal activities for the 'ruling party workers' and creating difficulties for local businesses.

Locals told an open court held by the representative of the Federal Ombudsman (FO) at the TMA hall a few days ago expressed their anger and distrust over the performance and facilitation of the TMA. They demanded provincial minister Arshad Ayub Khan correct the actions of the TMA.

On October 17, the jetty owners informed the officials of the Federal Ombudsman and TMA about the problems of Khanpur Dam and cautioned about the expected conflict. The clash eventually broke out on Thursday as the TMA didn't pay any attention. The Employees Union of TMA Khanpur protested and suspended municipal services yesterday after Chairman Abid Zaman reportedly used abusive language against TMA officers and officials. The protest ended after the intervention of TMO Khanpur Ayesha Tahir and other local body representatives who assured the arrest of those responsible and legal action.

Sources said that the TMA is not ready to mend its manners, adding the illegalities of the government officials were aimed at pleasing the high-ups and the government.

Due to a court battle between Wapda and the TMA regarding tax collection on Khanpur Dam, the former Deputy Commissioner (DC) had banned the registration of any new jetty on the dam, the sources said and that despite this, the TMA made illegal registrations of new jetties on back dates.