ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s enforcement directorate on Monday removed several illegal structures in the Bari Imam area.

Backed by the Islamabad police, the enforcement and environment wings of the civic agency conducted a routine operation in Doori Bagh and Dhoke Taile of Bari Imam area.

During the operation, several illegal structures on state land were removed.

“We demolished several illegal constructions and retrieved several kanals of state land,” said Syed Safdar Ali, a spokesman of the CDA.

The spokesman said that during the operation they razed 20 illegally constructed rooms, 10 boundary wall, one kiosk and 10 washrooms.

Some illegal structures constructed in front of Quaid-i-Azam University were also removed.

Sources in CDA, however, said unplanned operations were no solution to growing encroachments, rather CDA should target a specific area and after complete demolishing illegal structures and fencing, move to next area.

“Today, we were in Bari Imam, next day, we will be in action in F-10, this is no way to remove encroachment,” said an official of CDA, who requested not to be named.

He said that sector to sector and an area to area operation should be conducted to completely remove the encroachment.

The official said the CDA headquarters was located in G-7 where encroachments were rampant in various markets.

“I will suggest we should start from sector G-7,” he said and added car mechanics had expanded their workshops on a road behind the Urdu University, making it impassable not only for motorists but pedestrians as well.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2018