TAXILA: The local administration on Sunday launched a campaign against encroachers at Taxila Chowk.

Supervised by Assistant Commissioner Shahid Imran, officials from the tehsil municipal administration and the police removed the encroachments from both sides of the G.T. Road. The encroachments were creating traffic gridlocks and causing inconvenience to the commuters.

During the drive, cemented, paved encroachments and steel fixtures were removed which were constructed in front of various shops and plazas. A heavy contingent of the police in anti-riot gear was also present on the occasion. The cart owners were also removed from the bus stands and other roads. The officials also demolished several illegal extensions and encroachments made by the shopkeepers.

“We had time and again warned the vendors to voluntarily clear the encroachments. However, when they refused to do so, we had to take action against them,” said Shahid Imran while talking to newsmen at the site.

The AC said steps would be taken to ensure that the encroachments did not appear at the site again. He said any official of the TMA found involved in protecting the encroachers would face stern action.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd , 2014