CHAKWAL: The district administration of Chakwal seems quite hapless in removing encroachments from the markets and roads in the city.

The historic and sole bazaar of the city has virtually been taken over by encroachers making it hard even for the pedestrians to move around.

As the marriage season is on its peak these days, hundreds of people visit the Chapar Bazaar. Carts can be seen either moving or parked in an untidy way in the bazaar which leaves little space for the citizens to walk through.

A few weeks back, the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) launched a campaign and removed the encroachments from the bazaar and roads.

At once the city gave a clear look and the residents felt a relief. But this relief proved transient as all the roads and the Chapar Bazaar were again taken over by the encroachers.

“The shopkeepers make the most of encroachments as they take rent from encroachers who park their carts in front of their shops,” said Mohammad Ikram, the vice-president of the traders’ union.

“One cart provides bread and butter to three to four families,” added Mohammad Yasin, 70, who is running a shop in the bazaar for the last 20 years.

Many influential people, including cronies of local politicians, are among the owners of carts who have hired sellers, majority of them Afghan nationals.

As most of the furniture shops are also located in the Chapar Bazaar, the buyers have to hire vehicles or donkey-carts to transport their furniture to the main road. And when these carts or vehicles come into the bazaar, the way is blocked.

“If encroachments are removed or at least brought into a framework, the problem can be resolved,” said Haji Khawaja Riaz Ahmed, who has been running his shop in the Chapar Bazaar since 1965.

He added that all the cart owners should be moved to one place which can be created by demolishing the shoe shop owned by TMA.

“This shoe shop is situated in the centre of the bazaar and there is a big space in front of it.”

He said there was not a single washroom in the bazaar though the TMA collected hefty revenue from the shopkeepers. “Women face a lot of problems due to the encroachments and unavailability of washrooms,” he added.

On the other hand, the cart owners were of the view that the TMA should provide them an alternative site as they have to earn their bread and butter.

When contacted, Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO) Chaudhry Tariq Mahmood Paroya said a plan to relocate the cart owners to another place was under consideration.

“We are planning to move all the vegetable and fruit sellers to a place near Sarkari Ban. Without providing an alternative to the vendors, no encroachment drive could be successful,” he added.