PESHAWAR: Though the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has launched a massive crackdown on a large number of encroachments in Peshawar to restore the city’s past glory and ensure smooth flow of traffic, it seems that a lack of coordination among relevant departments will hamper it.

No doubt, the removal of over half a century old concrete structure was a huge task for an elected government as no one in the past ever dared remove a single illegal kiosk for the only reason that encroachers of the government land are voters and their votes matter in elections.

During a recent visit to different roads and streets, it was observed that thousands of illegal mini-shops, cabins, kiosks and portions of the buildings had been removed, while owners of many buildings had been told to follow anti-encroachment policy to prevent action.

Removal of encroachments rendered many historical sites like Ghanta Ghar visible to local residents and tourists.

Similarly, the roads and streets leading to the historical sites were also cleared to enable local and foreign tourists to move easily to and from these sites.

All those who have played role in the first phase of the anti-encroachment campaign really deserve appreciation and encouragement so that the action will meet the government’s target to restore the past beauty of Peshawar, a historical city.

The action is still underway and will hopefully bear fruit once it is complete. However, some issues related to the relevant departments need immediate attention so that the people shouldn’t suffer for long and general public will start utilising the extra space retrieved from encroachers.

The electricity poles and power transformers have occupied major portions of different roads which need to be shifted to another wider space.

The traffic police also need to deploy more personnel to ensure that no one grab roads or parts of them for unnecessary parking and overstepping. The rickshaw and taxi drivers have yet to get education to avoid waiting along busy roads for passengers.

Similarly, the cemented structures on drains and canals need to be removed in order to ensure smooth flow of sewage to avoid floods and stagnant water during rainy seasons.

Expressing satisfaction with the anti-encroachment campaign, 60-year-old Mohammad Younas, a shopkeeper at Chowk Yadgar, told Dawn that almost every shopkeeper had lost a mini-shop outside their workplaces but the action did away with traffic mess and unusual noise pollution. He said customers also avoided coming as they faced hardships in parking vehicles.

“Initially, the people considered the campaign an action against their interests but with the passage of time, they realised it was dire need for free movement otherwise it could block the entire city after a decade,” the shopkeeper said.

He suggested that traffic police ensure their presence on the main spots for the maximum time to direct motorists for parking their vehicles at designated places only. The shopkeeper called for early construction of footpaths, drains and roads to ensure cleanliness.

“We have seen an increase of 25 percent in the arrival of customers after removal of encroachments and the action will also help improve the law and order situation when the traffic will run smoothly,” he said.

Another senior trader, Haji Manzoor, 55, said there would be no problem in loading and unloading and that only customers would park vehicles for sometimes. He said the government should ensure early completion of the crackdown so that it didn’t affect business.

Owner of a general store at Dabgari Abid Hussain Awan suggested that the municipal corporation Peshawar ensure removal of rubble soon after the demolition of concrete structures to check inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians, especially during rains.

A vendor, Naseer, said the government rendered thousands of people jobless by launching the anti-encroachment campaign and that it should give them alternate space for pushcart owners and vendors.

Shehzad Rasheed, another shopkeeper, said the government should allow shopkeepers to build two-foot chhaja (roof canopy) over their shops to prevent rainwater.

“I am 34 but I saw the complete structure of Ghanta Ghar for the first time as its surrounding area was earlier occupied by encroachers,” he said. He also demanded stern action against the building department’s officials, who, he said, approved building plans in violation of bylaws just for money.

“Had the building control agency not allowed illegal construction, the people would have never done so,” he said.

Ghulam Sabir, who deals in medicines near Ghanta Ghar, said political leaders had created problems in the past by blocking action against encroachers just to secure their vote bank.

He said encroachments had also made lives of the people, living permanently in the adjacent localities as they (especially the women and children) could not move quickly even in emergencies.He demanded the shifting of electricity poles and transformers to safer places to avoid casualties.

Some, who deal in fish and poultry and have suffered due to the anti-encroachment campaign, suggested that the government expedite work on the demarcation of places at alternate sites for them.

Peshawar deputy commissioner Riaz Mehsud said all relevant departments were on board and review meetings were held frequently to complete the mission in a befitting manner within the shortest possible time.

He, however, said there were some problems for which the federal government departments like Peshawar Electric Supply Company, SNGPL and PTCL were to blame but they used to send representatives to the meetings promising cooperation.

“Initially, it was a challenge but it was strong resolve of the provincial government which encouraged the administration to launch the operation in consultation with the relevant lawmakers, trader bodies and relevant departments. Sharing details about the process of identification of encroachments, issuance of notices and launching the operation, the DC said that community had fully assured him of extending support to restore beauty of Peshawar.

He said the costly government property at different places with millions of rupees had been retrieved.

“We have planned setting up of parking lots, car villages and flood streets to overcome the traffic issues and facilitate the business community and general public as well so that they will feel a positive change while moving in Peshawar,” the DC said.

He also pointed several problems created due to arrival of IDPs, unplanned urbanisation, lack of awareness, lack of will on part of different people. “ I have utilised my past experience of different districts and tribal regions and continued the operation which will succeed shortly,” he said, adding that the operation on University Road, Kohat Road, Ring Road and other busy thoroughfares would continue in addition to follow-up actions in order to ensure removal of obstructions on permanent basis.

Similarly, traffic police SSP Wahid Mehmood said additional policemen would be deployed only on request by the traders otherwise there was no need for more men in the city.

He said both the population and number of vehicles were fast increasing and there was no progress in improvement of roads. The SSP suggested construction of new roads and widening of the existing ones to overcome traffic problems.

Pesco spokesman Shaukat Afzal said all electricity poles would be shifted away from roads if the government made due payment to the company.

Published in Dawn March 16th , 2015

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