KARACHI, Nov 3: Encroachment has become a thriving business in Saddar Town and the administration seems to be utterly failed to control the problem.
A survey shows that all sorts of encroachers are active in Saddar, Jama Cloth Market, Boulton Market and Lea Market. They have occupied every inch of the market land, either by force or by greasing the palms of local police. Because of these encroachments, there is always a rush for roadside shopping.
It is noticed that customers prefer shopping at roadside stalls. It is for this reason that a large number of shopkeepers have put up roadside stalls in complete violation of laws.
all the encroachers pay “bhatta” to the police. The average amount varies from person to person depending upon his status, income and the location of encroachment.
The area people say it is also a roaring business for shopkeepers and restaurant owners who are paid for parking of all kinds of vehicles in front of their restaurants and shops.
It is difficult to walk on market roads owing to parking of all types of vehicles disregarding all traffic rules. The police have failed to take any notice of it.
Complete chaos is witnessed during the peak hours of morning and evening, when vehicles are parked in the middle of roads, blocking the traffic flow in complete violation of rules.
Area people allege that the police do not take notice of such violations because their palms are greased by the encroacher mafia which is powerful that it controls all routes in the surroundings of the markets.
Several anti-encroachment operations have been launched in the past to clear these routes, but after every operation, the encroachers staged a comeback. Municipal authorities always blame the police for their non-cooperative attitude in this regard.
The encroachment business is also in full swing in the Lea Market area which has been converted into a bus terminal, where the transport mafia reigns supreme.
The situation has become worst after the unnatural demarcation of Lyari Town’s territory, depriving the Town from its vital commercial centres—Lea Market and the Timber Market.
The Saddar Town administration has totally ignored the illegal activity of the transport mafia or it is incapable of taking any action against it.
Almost every building around Lea Market has a warehouse or some storage facility on its ground floor. A large number of goods trucks enter the area for loading or unloading goods. Their timing for movement is not fixed. One can observe the activity all day long or even at night. These trucks are not only causing traffic congestion, but are one of the major sources of air and noise pollution.
Residents demand that the movement of these trucks be banned during daytime, or the godowns be shifted outside the city.
Encroachment is the biggest problem in Saddar Town. Despite the several removal operations launched by civic agencies under civic and military governments, the business continues to flourish.
An NGO activist of the area remarked that the multi-million business would continue to run because of the “involvement of top officials.”
KARACHI, Nov 3: Encroachment has become a thriving business in Saddar Town and the administration seems to be utterly failed to control the problem.
