RAWALPINDI: The district administration on Wednesday launched a crackdown against illegal constructions on state land and retrieved four kanals and seven marlas belonging to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), worth Rs500 million, from illegal occupation.

The campaign was launched by Assistant Commissioner Naeem Afzal who was accompanied by ETPB Deputy Director Mohammad Asif. Five shops and houses were demolished during the campaign held from Dhoke Ellahi Bux to Sir Syed Chowk.

Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, Rescue 1122, Revenue Department, Civil Defence, Islamabad Electric Supply Company, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines personnel also participated in the operation.

AC Afzal said the operation was started on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Omer Jehangir and will continue till all state land is retrieved from illegal occupants.

She said the illegal occupants were issued vacation notices more than six times but they had refused to vacate. She said the land revenue record of the area was available with the district administration which clearly states ETPB as the owner of the encroached on land.

She said a list of illegally occupied state land has been finalised and that final notices have been served to all occupants. She said they have been warned to vacate the land in 10 to 15 days or stern action will be taken against them.

ETPB Deputy Director Mohammad Asif told Dawn the ETPB had provided a list of its property in the district and informed the district administration about encroachments.

He said the department had raised the issue in the past but work had not been launched for retrieving the land. However, he said, the district administration and local police had assured the department of assistance in getting its land back.

“On Thursday, the district administration and ETPB will launch action against 10 houses and 40 shops on Hamilton Road, commonly known as Dingi Khoi, to retrieve two kanals and 14 marlas of the Damdama Temple from illegal occupants,” he said.

He said some Kashmiri families had been allotted the upper story of the temple for residence by the ETPB but the ground floor had been occupied by the land mafia.

“We will accommodate the families in other areas and the land will be vacated as people have built shops there without permission. According to the law, temple land cannot be used for commercial purposes,” he said.

He said the district administration’s help has also been sought to get back land of many other temples in the thickly populated areas where shops have been constructed.

“All the record of temple lands is available with the ETPB and the Revenue Department of the district administration,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2018