Railways land: Operation against illegal occupants from Feb 16

Occupants notified to remove structures.

HARIPUR:

Railway authorities in Haripur have decided to launch an operation to retrieve their land from illegal occupants from February 16.

According to sources, encroachers have been served notices to remove their structures before February 15 to avoid demolition.

Informed sources told The Express Tribune that 152,340 square feet(sq.ft) of land from Haripur to Havelian Railway Station has been occupied by influential persons and despite several warnings, they have not vacated the land.

They said 45 houses and two structures covering 135,977 sq.ft have been built around Haripur Railway Station. Similarly, 13 houses covering 2,430 sq.ft have been built in the limits of Baldhair Railway Station.

In addition to that, four houses have illegally been built on 9,640 sq feet near Havelian Railway Station, besides 22 commercial structures and two shops covering 4,293 sq.ft.

According to locals, these structures were built in connivance with the authorities in the past few years. The authorities, they said, remained silent over the issue because encroachers paid bribes.

Hazara Railways Permanent Way Inspector Imtiaz Ahmed, when approached for comments, confirmed these figures, and said encroachers have been served notices to remove the structures.

He said that the district and police administration have also been taken on board and they have assured their support in line with the verdict of Supreme Court.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2012.