ABBOTTABAD: The local administration removed Illegal encroachments from the College Road Mandian and Supply Road here in the cantonment area.

A special squad accompanied by a heavy contingent of police carried out the crackdown with the help of heavy machinery and removed illegal sheds, pushcarts, cabins and small food huts.

Some shops and pushcart owners voluntarily removed encroachments.

Smalltime traders however claimed that they’re targeted in the campaign, while the administration had spared the large plazas and other structures illegal put up.

They demanded the removal of encroachments from alongside nullahs and outside roadside shops.

Also, the tehsil municipal administration removed illegal encroachments in different parts of the city. A bazaar of secondhand clothes was removed in Jinnah Bagh, while the boundary wall of C&W Colony was pulled down on Link Road.

The employees and residents of C&W Colony held a protest in front of the DC office and expressed reservations about the TMA action saying removal of boundary wall has rendered the colony vulnerable.

Also, the TMA issued notices to the residents of the colony to vacate houses, where it has planned to construct a shopping mall and plaza. The administration said the employees of C&W could retain houses by paying dues and rent otherwise they would be evicted.

Meanwhile, the food authority raided three dairy shops on Murree Road, Mandian and Kehal and seized adulterated milk before disposing it of.

Heavy fine was imposed on shop owners. Also, the TMA sealed two hotels for selling unhygienic food.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2018