Encroachments removed from Swat River banks

MINGORA: The district administration along with police and Irrigation Department staff kicked off an anti-encroachment drive here on Monday.Most of the buildings including hotel and restaurants built illegally along the bank of Swat River, were demolished during the action.

The buildings including the decades-old construction done by the land mafia on government property were raised to the ground. “Swat is prone to floods as encroachments on both sides of the Swat River increases the risk of lives loss in case of floods and natural disasters. On the first day more than 100 kanal of land were recovered from the land mafia, after the illegal construction was removed”, said Shozaib Naqvi, Assistant Commissioner, Babuzai.

The official added that the drive would continue until all the illegal occupied land was recovered. He said due to the illegal construction on both sides of the river, the natural landscape and beauty of the valley had been badly affected.

In the first phase of the operation six months back in Tehsil Bahrain, more than 50 buildings, mostly hotels and restaurants were demolished.

The administration had already issued notices to over 300 owners to demolish their building on their own or else the authorities concerned would come into action. “The government has illegally demolished the registered lands of the poor people of Swat. The rulers had promised to provide 10 million jobs to the youth but now they are depriving the local of their properties and businesses”, said Amir Maqam, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz KP chapter president while flaying the action.He demanded of the government to provide relief and compensation to those affected by the anti-encroachment drive.