Unchecked river encroachments in Chitral heighten flood risk

CHITRAL: The construction of commercial buildings along the banks of the Chitral River and its tributaries in the limits Chitral town is posing a serious environmental and public safety threat.

Expressing concern over the growing encroachments, they allege that newly built structures in recent years have been erected without any intervention from relevant government departments or the district administration. This lack of enforcement, they said, had encouraged others to violate the law with impunity.

“The unchecked construction right in the riverbed, especially during the winter months, shows how powerless the government appears to be,” said one resident adding, “Anyone with enough financial resources can begin building wherever they like, without fear of consequences.”

In recent years, heavy rainfall along with accelerated glacial melt has already exposed the danger. Last year, a high-intensity flood diverted towards low-lying areas, including the historic Shahi Qila, causing widespread concern.

Encroachments are not limited to the main river. Tributaries such as Chitral Gol, Zughur Gol, Danin, and Morine Gol are also being choked by illegal structures. Locals warn that these could divert floodwaters directly toward residential villages, with potentially devastating consequences.

The issue is further compounded by unregulated sewage disposal. In many areas, raw sewage and solid waste are being dumped directly into the river and its tributaries. And most large commercial plazas built on encroached land lack proper septic tanks or drainage systems, in clear violation of Section 3 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa River Protection Ordinance 2002, which prohibits construction within 200 feet of the high-water mark on either side of a river or stream.

When contacted for comment, Executive Engineer Sohail Khan of the Chitral Irrigation Division clarified that the responsibility for issuing notifications and initiating action lies with the assistant commissioner. “Once a formal notification is issued, our department is responsible for identifying the encroachments,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Chitral, Munir Aftab, said that an operation to remove encroachments is in the planning phase. “A detailed review of logistics and legal matters is underway. Action will be taken soon,” he went on to pledge.