Anti-encroachment drive: Markets cleared in ‘grand operation’

Several notices for voluntary removals were ignored.

SARGODHA: The district government on Friday launched an operation against encroachments in markets after several deadlines for voluntary removals were ignored by the encroachers.

A spokesman of the district government said notices in this regard had been issued several times. “Despite many warnings, encroachers did not clear roads and pavements they took over,” he said.

He said on the first day, TMA teams had demolished encroachments in Muslim Bazaar, Liaqat Market, Hamid Shah Market and Majid Road. The spokesman said Investigation SP Investigation Attaur Rehman, TMA administrator Farooq Rasheed Sindhu, Assistant Commissioner Abdullajh Khurram Niazi and the DSP supervised the drive. He said a large number of policemen and TMA workers were deployed for the “grand operation.”

He said the teams had removed encroachments early in the morning before markets opened. He said there was no resistance to the drive.  “Encroachers in other markets have again been given a three-day deadline to clear encroachments in commercial areas,” he said. “If they do not do it voluntarily, the district administration will take them to task according to law.” He said removal of encroachments had added up to 20-feet in the markets.

The spokesman said citizens had expressed satisfaction over the encroachment drive. “According to the feedback we received, citizens said shopping had come easier.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2015.