Negligence drowns Abbottabad again

Delay in establishing Encroachment Removal Cell causes financial losses to residents

ABBOTTABAD:

Failure to implement court orders has once again left Abbottabad city submerged during heavy monsoon rains. The delay in establishing an Encroachment Removal Cell, coupled with negligence by Cantonment Board, WASA, TMA, and other relevant institutions, has caused financial losses worth millions of rupees to residents.

Advocate Zafar Iqbal has once again approached the court. It may be recalled that in 2017, during the monsoon season, the entire city, including the hockey stadium, was inundated. At that time, Advocate Iqbal, along with fellow lawyers, had filed a writ petition before the Peshawar High Court Abbottabad Circuit Bench, naming the federal government, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Commissioner Hazara, Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad, TMA, Tehsil Nazim, WASA, GDA, Cantonment Board, NHA, and Frontier Highway Authority as respondents.

In December 2022, the court disposed of the petition while directing authorities to immediately remove encroachments, clean storm drains on time, and establish an Encroachment Removal Cell. The court had observed with regret that none of the departments submitted satisfactory responses, and their failure to ensure the timely cleaning of drains was the main reason rainwater overflowed onto streets and neighbourhoods, causing heavy financial and human losses.

However, the departments ignored the court's directives and continued with business as usual, the consequences of which were once again witnessed during the recent monsoon downpours when the entire city was submerged, resulting in massive losses and even loss of lives. Advocate Iqbal has now announced that he will once again move the court to seek action against non-compliance.