January 17, 2008	Thursday	Muharram 07, 1429

KARACHI, Jan 16: Encroachments in Lyari and Saddar towns continue to be a pressing problem that is needed to be resolved on a priority basis to rid motorists and pedestrians of the exhausting fatigue they are made to experience as a daily routine.

Cosmetic actions often taken during numerous campaigns against encroachers have so far failed to produce any positive results as all those involved in this nuisance have been doing a roaring business on roads and streets of commercial areas in both the towns.

Ironically, each of the anti-encroachment campaigns carried out in the past ended up in arguments with the department concerned shifting blame of failure on each other. None of these departments, however, disagrees that the situation has remained unchanged and that the encroachers are the same professionals who have been occupying wide spaces of roads and footpaths for years.

Commercial streets, market places, shopping centres, bus stops and other crowded spots are their favourite places to set up an illegal outlet.

In Lyari Town, the situation has been turning from bad to worse with each passing day and it seems that encroachers have been allowed to occupy any place of their choice and without any fear of being removed or even questioned for their illegal act.

Not only have they already occupied wide spaces in and around the main commercial centres like Lea Market, Sheedi Village Road, Hasht Chowk, Karabhai Karimji Road, Shah Waliullah Road and Shah Latif Bhittai Road, they have been encroaching upon more and more streets and footpaths around school and hospitals in residential areas of the town by setting up or expanding their roadside business, eg automobile workshops, parking lots for commercial vehicles, etc.

Some of such fully occupied localities have literally become no-go areas for women, schoolchildren or the elderly people living nearby. Ambulances or fire-tenders also may not pass through these roads and streets easily.

The commercial vehicles parked by these encroachers at various places near hospitals block access of patients and medical personnel to the hospitals.

A similar situation could be witnessed around government schools located on Chawkiwara Road, Juna Kumharwara Road, Shah Latif Bhittai Road and the Lyari Degree College where all types of vehicles remain parked the whole day.

Examples of permanent encroachments at Empress Market, Tibet Centre, Jamia Cloth Market, Motandas Market, Bolton Market, Kharadar, Mithadar, Ranchorr Line and Nanakwara areas can be witnessed at any time during business hours.

Perturbed by the hardships faced by motorists, pedestrians and shopkeepers said that re-emergence of encroachers after their removal in the anti-encroachment campaigns was not understandable. It lends credence to common accusation that the officials concerned, including those of the police department, were hand in glove with the encroachers, according to the residents of the affected localities.