PESHAWAR: The district and city administration has demolished over 3,000 shops and kiosks as part of a major anti-encroachment drive in the provincial capital to ensure smooth flow of traffic and reclaim state property.

Led by the district administration, officials from the Municipal Corporation, Peshawar Development Authority, Works and Services Department, Revenue Department and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority are undertaking an all-encompassing anti-encroachment campaign, clearing up bazaars in the old part of the city to clear roads and reclaim lost property.

“There is complete determination on my part. We have the full backing of the government and the traders community,” deputy commissioner, Peshawar, Riaz Khan Mahsud told Dawn. “We are not coercing people and traders. Everything is being done voluntarily and with their consent.”

Mr Mahsud’s words should be reassuring to the traders who had earlier resisted moves by the city administration to remove encroachments. Three people were killed in a clash between the traders and municipal workers during an anti-encroachment drive at Ghanta Ghar in the old part of Peshawar city on January 16. The incident led to a judicial probe and had brought the drive to a halt.

The deputy commissioner said that a proper work plan had been developed to undertake the campaign in a coordinated manner. “We have divided the district in 12 zones and the drive is being undertaken simultaneously,” he said. He said that the administration used the city map from 1936 for reference to identify encroachments.

Admin has full baking of govt, says Peshawar DC

“We serve notices on encroachers and give them enough time to remove encroachments on their own. We deploy our own heavy machinery if they fail to do so or the structures are big enough to warrant their use,” he said.

He said that his administration so far had not faced any problem. “Everything is working out well.” He said that 90 per cent work on the removal of encroachments in Bhana Mari had been completed, while similar exercise in the old part of the city’s Karimpura, Pepal Mandi, Ghanta Ghar, Ashraf Road, Rampura and Charasadda Road areas was underway and nearing completion.

In Sabzi Mandi, the 10 feet track for pedestrians had now been widened to 60 feet after removal of encroachments. “There is a tsunami in the market,” a shopkeeper selling vegetable seeds told Dawn.

Mr Mahsud said that due to the administration’s efforts five double-storey buildings illegally built on government property on Charassada Road had been demolished and land worth about Rs300 million retrieved.

The deputy commissioner denied claims by traders of carrying out selective demolition and leaving out influential figures. “This is not true,” he said. “It is indiscriminate. There is no pick and choose,” he said.

He said that the government had sanctioned Rs100 million as a first installment for black-topping of roads, building side drains and paths, of which Rs45 million had already been spent. He said that the administration would remove all illegal bus and van stands in the next phase of the operation.

Published in Dawn March 1st , 2015

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