Anti-encroachment drive in Kaghan valley soon: official

MANSEHRA: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is all set to launch an anti-encroachment drive in the Kaghan valley.

“We have finalised an anti-encroachment drive from Kaghan to Naran to ground the concrete and temporary buildings coming in the way of Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road,” Dr Qasim Ali Khan, the deputy commissioner, told reporters at his office here on Tuesday.

Dr Qasim said that the National Highway Authority, Wapda, police, tehsil and district administrations would take part in the anti-encroachment drive being launched within a day or two.

He said that a bumpy road leading to Kaghan valley from New Balakot City near Dodial would be built at a cost of Rs850 million and traffic would be completely diverted on it.

“We are also relocating the hotels, cabins and other commercial and non-commercial structures from Saiful Muluk lake to anywhere else to preserve its natural essence and environment as it is rapidly losing its charm because of the encroachments there,” Dr Qasim said.

He said that an additional Assistant Commissioner was posted in Naran to check progress of the projects and initiatives launched under Prime Minister’s clean and green vision in the valley.