MANSEHRA: The district administration has expedited land acquisition for the proposed cemeteries on the outskirts of Mansehra city after banning the sale of land in Dara and Chakia areas.

The ban was imposed by the deputy commissioner under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

The administration will acquire over 85 kanals of land, including 50 kanals in Dara and 63 kanals in Chakia.

DC Dr Qasim Ali Khan told reporters on Wednesday that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had released Rs200 million four years ago to acquire land for cemeteries but a long delay in land acquisition caused its price to increase manifold.

“Considering the available funds, we have selected two appropriate pieces of land,” he said. Dr Qasim said the city would be divided into two sectors and the people of each of them could bury their dead in the nearby graveyards.

“We have expedited land acquisition after imposing Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act in light of the acute shortage of burial spaces in graveyards,” he said.

ENCROACHMENTS: The tehsil municipal administration on Wednesday launched an anti-encroachment campaign in Oghi city and its outskirts and removed handcarts and temporary structures in different bazaars.

A TMA team led by chief inspector Hassan Tanoli removed the temporary encroachments from Toheed Road and Shergar Road and shifted them to TMA offices.

“We have removed around three dozen handcarts for different bazaars and shifted them to TMA offices,” he said.

Mr Tanoli said the structures hampering traffic were also removed. He said the administration had warned traders and shopkeepers to destroy illegal concrete structures to prevent action.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2021