Land mafia steps in as waters recede

Land mafia starts encroaching canals, streams and rivers, despite imposition of section 144 in the area.

SWAT: The land mafia has once again started encroaching canals, streams and rivers, making them narrower, despite the imposition of section 144 in the area.

A majority of the towns constructed along the bank of rivers and streams were completely washed away by the recent floods after which the government imposed section 144, which bans construction closer to the bank of rivers and streams until proper demarcation. But the land mafia has initiated construction of safety walls along the streams and rivers, challenging the law openly.

Encroachments on the Marguzar-Mingora canal poses a risk to a population of more than 5,000 houses in Chail Shagai, Shaheenabad, Hajiabad, Shahi Bagh, Shna Krapa and Faizabad. Residents in these villages say the mafia has access to high authorities in the government.

Mussarat Ahmad Zeb, a resident of Saidu Sharif, told The Express Tribune that  “huge-scale destruction in the floods was caused by these encroachments,” which created obstructions in the path of the water and in turn washed away all the bridges, particularly the bridge that connected Shaheenabad with Saidu Sharif.

“Actually the old demarcation from the times of Swat state had been changed when the flood hit the area in 1987, changing the course and direction of the stream after which people started constructing on the land of the old stream. Tehsil Muncipal Administration and irrigation department have started making demarcations by bringing back the situation to that of 1987,” said a patwari Sher Akbar.

Tasleem, a resident of the area, said: “We are facing many problems since the bridge to our area was washed away.

The makeshift bridge that has been laid is only for pedestrians, not for vehicles.”

The school-going children have a big problem crossing the makeshift bridge, a school teacher named Fazilat said. “We have to cross the bridge from our homes and catch a vehicle in order to go to work.  Worst affected are the ill and elderly because when they come for treatment they have to be carried on charpoys.  This is all because of these encroachments. We don’t know why these people are narrowing the flowing canal. If they do it again, we will be faced with more threats.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2010.