Repeated actions fail to check encroachments in Pindi

RAWALPINDI: Local administration has failed to control the menace of encroachments from the city, as after every operation, encroachments resurface and it seems the city fathers are helpless in this regard.

Contrary to the report submitted with the Lahore High Court (LHC) additional registrar office, by the city district government, Rawalpindi, which states that around 55 FIRs have been registered against encroachment mafia in different areas during past four months, the situation in bazaars, streets and roads of the city is pathetic where encroachers occupy the space despite repeated anti-encroachment actions.

The report submitted by Deputy Commissioner (Rawalpindi) Talat Gondal, states that in different operations in areas in and around Murree Road, Bazaar Talwara, Barra Bazaar, Sabzimandi, Raja Bazaar, Holy Family Hospital, Circular Road, City Saddar Road and several other areas in four months 55 FIRs had been registered against violators.

According to Town Municipal Administration (TMA) Rawal Town enforcement department, police had arrested several people nominated in these 55 FIRs. But, it is ironical that all encroachers have returned to their practice once again after getting bails from court of law. The TMA also imposed fine of Rs500,000 on encroachers during past four months.

Chief Officer (CO) Rawal Town Administration Sardar Tashfeen said that they have submitted report with LHC additional registrar. “We are continuously trying to remove all encroachments from city areas. We will clean majority of city roads very soon. We had sent violators to jail but they returned back on bail. I have instructed concerned enforcement staff to crackdown on daily basis to clean the city at any cost,” he claimed. He said that he obeys court and it was his duty to clean this city from encroachment mafia.

Justice Ibad-ur-Rehman Lodhi, the man behind action against encroachment mafia and since he has to look after the double bench of Lahore High Court, he comes to Rawalpindi after every fortnight or a month and whenever he is in town, action against encroachers picks up momentum. Last time during the hearing of the case, Justice Ibad-ur-Rehman Lodhi also directed Mayor Rawalpindi Sardar Naseem to look into the matter seriously because he was literally father of the city.

The only change which the people are seeing in Raja Bazaar is that concerned authority has allowed Suzuki pickups to run their vehicles through Barra Bazaar and Trunk Bazaar. Otherwise there seems to be little change as encroachment mafia as per routine ruling the roost in the city.

The situation on the other hand has not improved because encroachments resurface in Raja Bazaar, Bara Bazaar, Trunk Bazaar, China Market, Iqbal Road, City Saddar Road, Mochi Bazaar, Dalgaran Bazaar, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Commercial Market, Banni, Jamia Masjid Road, Asghar Mall Road, Faizabad, Double Road, Pirwadhai, Dhoke Mangtal, Dhoke Ratta, Ganjmandi, Adiala Road and even Benazir Bhutto Road in city while Tench Bhatta, Chungi No.22 Road, Churr, Lalkurti, Sherzaman, Tulsa Road, Allahabad Road, Saddar Bazaar, Hathi Chowk, Railway Road, Chotta Bazaar and even Westridge. The traffic remains stand still in these areas while pedestrians also face difficulties round the clock.