SUKKUR: The district admini­st­ration sealed on Sunday two multistoried buildings of private hospitals built on encroached land of irrigation department and put them on notice that the buildings would be razed after patients and material had been moved out.

The action was taken on the sixth day of anti-encroachment operation launched by the irrigation department and the district administration in Barrage Colony, which began on Nov 17 as per Sindh High Court orders to clear land of irrigation department.

The illegal buildings of Hira Hospital and SSD Hospital on Workshop Road that surrounded the Barrage Colony were finally sealed and the hospital administrations were seen shifting patients, medical equipment and other moveable things from the buildings before the edifices were to be razed. Besides, medical stores, guest houses, car showrooms and shops on the road were also moving out their goods.

Sukkur deputy commissioner wrote a letter to district health officer and Civil Hospital’s medical superintendent two days ago, directing them to extend cooperation to private hospitals’ administrations in shifting of patients and making necessary arrangements at the government hospital for accommodating them in the light of court’s orders dated Nov 19.

During the first five days of the operation, the anti-encroachment teams avoided laying hands on encroachments of influential persons and restricted themselves to razing some small shops and houses but now they appeared to begin to go tough on the bigwigs as well.

Meanwhile, municipal and revenue department staff led by mukhtiarkars started eviction of people from illegal buildings and shops with the help of police. Mukhtiarkars said the buildings would be bulldozed with the help of heavy machinery after dispossession.

The Sukkur bench of the Sindh High Court had ordered in a petition filed by Mian Abdul Rahim Bharo that all the deputy commissioners of Sindh except that of Karachi “identify the land of irrigation, public parks and grounds, which are encroached upon by private persons, and such detailed report be placed on record of this court on the next date (of hearing).

“The court also directed chief engineers, superintending engineer and executive engineer of irrigation department to submit a report on encroachment of irrigation lands,” said the order.

After receiving the court orders, Sukkur deputy commissioner wrote a letter to executive engineer of barrage division Sukkur as well as assistant commissioners of city Sukkur, new Sukkur, Rohri, Salehpat and Pano Akil, asking them to submit requisite reports about encroachments within their jurisdictions to his office in order to comply with the court’s orders.

He directed superintending engineer and executive engineer of provincial highways department Sukkur to clear the path and construct road under ADP-2021 scheme through bypass, Dolphin Bakery and along NW Canal and IBA Hostel, and ensure compliance of orders within stipulated time.

He directed district health officer and medical superintendent of Sukkur Civil Hospital to remove the multistoried buildings of Hira Hospital and SSD Hospital and provide help in shifting of patients from the hospitals. He asked the officers to coordinate with the hospitals’ administrations and make necessary arrangements for the patients.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2020