Abbottabad’s tehsil municipal administration launched a special anti-encroachment campaign.
TMA officers conducted raids in densely populated areas such as Abbottabad’s main bazaar, Sabzi Mandi, Sarafa Bazaar, and Lohar Bazaar, as well as removing temporary encroachments from Kutcheri Road and Gurdwara Street.
In addition, the TMA Abbottabad spokesperson said to avoid any kind of encroachment within the boundaries of TMA, else strict action will be taken against the violators.
As per the sources, notices were also issued to shopkeepers requesting that encroachments be removed voluntarily. The officials also seized a large number of pushcarts, vehicles, and temporary cabins during the raids.
The TMA staff invited traders to come forward and work with them to remove encroachments from the city. They stated that pushcarts and vendors would not be permitted to cause traffic congestion.
Furthermore, the Balakot Tehsil Municipal Administration has issued notices to over 100 property owners in connection with the construction of houses and commercial centres along the Kunhar River.
According to Tehsil Municipal Officer Sardar Saqib, the authority has served notices on people who have built or are currently building houses and shops along the Kunhar River in its 200-foot area.
According to him, the Peshawar High Court has prohibited all types of construction along rivers and streams.
He explained that in response to that order, his department had served notices on such owners, threatening legal action against violators.
The provincial government has also decided to impose a ban on new construction along rivers and streams because the recent flash floods caused massive devastation in the province, said Saqib.
The encroachers should observe the protocols and voluntarily remove all such structures built along the Kunhar River, Saqib added.
It is worth noting that the recent flash floods destroyed hotels and commercial buildings in Balakot tehsil as well as other parts of the province.