BATTAGRAM: The residents of Battagram have demanded of the administration to launch anti-encroachment drive at the main bazaar of the district.

They said that encroachments on footpaths and main road were increasing in the district as traders were renting out spaces in front of their shops to vendors in clear violation of laws.

They said that major portion of footpaths in Battagram Bazaar was occupied by encroachers that caused problems to pedestrians and could also result in accidents as people were forced to walk on the roads.

Talking to this correspondent, majority of the vendors said that they were paying a monthly rent to the shopkeepers and traders. They said that the traders and shopkeepers were earning handsome amount every month by collecting rent of footpaths from the stallholders.

“The government spends millions of rupees on construction of footpaths so that pedestrians can walk safely and easily but some encroachers and traders are misusing this public facility in connivance with the officials of tehsil municipal administration,” alleged Hameed, a resident of Battagram.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2019