ISLAMABAD: A committee of officials from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Small Dams Division has found massive encroachments on Nullah Korang, a key source of water to the Rawal Dam.

A report by the ICT and CDA, recently submitted to the Supreme Court for hearing today (Thursday), said that a site visit had observed that Khasra No.153 had been encroached upon through the construction of an unauthorised culvert, diverting the flow of the nullah.

People have filled in the bed of the nullah and built gardens and roads, the report said.

Report by ICT, CDA submitted to SC for hearing today

Approximately over 40 kanals of land has been illegally reclaimed in Khasra No.153, the report claimed. “Houses are also constructed in this Khasra,” it said.

The report said it was observed that waterway measurement varies seasonally, and during rainfall the waterway extends to adjoining khasras in Mouza Malpur and Mohra Noor.

“The pebbles in this bed indicate the presence of riverbed in the entire khasra. The rock formation on banks of the rivers also verifies the extent of the bed,” the report said.

Encroachments in Nullah Korang were highlighted in the SC last August. On directions from the court, the ICT administration and CDA survey department conducted demarcation in March this year, and CDA sources said that during the demarcation, it emerged that over 50 kanals of land in the nullah was under illegal occupation.

The case was fixed before the SC in March, and the court directed the Wafaqi Mohtasib to give a detailed report on encroachers on the nullah bed.

As per court directions, around 16 locals accused of having encroached on the nullah have submitted their applications before the Wafaqi Mohtasib, and report from the Wafaqi Mohtasib will also likely be taken up on Thursday.

Sources in the ICT told Dawn that during the latest survey, the joint survey team had examined locals’ records and in most cases it transpired that locals had encroached on the nullah.

An ICT official said that in most cases, the locals had bought shamlaat land in various khasras but took possession in khasras 1164 or 153, encroaching on the Nullah Korang.

In some cases, he said, locals bought land but their deeds were not entered in the revenue records and they took possession from Khasra No.1164, encroaching on the nullah.

Officials from the ICT and CDA that Dawn spoke to said over 50 kanals of land in the nullah was under illegal occupation, and over a dozen houses had been constructed on nullah land.

ICT Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Kamran Cheema could not be reached for comment, but CDA spokesperson Malik Saleem said the latest survey was jointly carried out by the ICT, CDA and Small Dams Division.

“As per my information, the report has been submitted before the SC as the case is fixed for Thursday,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2018