MANSEHRA: The National Highway Authority has served final notices on traders ordering the voluntary removal of buildings and shops illegally built along the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road from Bisian Balakot to Kawai area in Kaghan valley.

It warned that if the traders didn’t comply with orders, it would pull down those structures next month.

“We are going to launch the second phase of the anti-encroachment campaign to clear the MNJ Road from illegal buildings and shops between Bisian and Kawai area,” Balakot assistant commissioner Hamid Khan told reporters on Wednesday.

Accompanied by the NHA officials, he said notices had been issues to 71 traders and building owners for voluntary encroachment removal by next month.

He said the tourism season in Kaghan valley would begin next month, so the district administration wanted to remove encroachments to ensure hassle-free travelling for visitors.

“Kaghan valley attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists in the summer season. The anti- encroachment crackdown will be complete up to the Babusar Top before the start of the season this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, the district administration directed the revenue collectors to file a compressive report on the illegally occupied government land and property illegally for their recovery.

MAN KILLED: A man was killed in Lassan Nawab area here on Wednesday.

Mohammad Rafique smashed Mukhan Khan’s head with a stone after having heated exchanges over an issue. The injured died on the way to the civil hospital in Pulrah area. The police registered an FIR and began raids to arrest the suspected killer, who fled after the incident.

Also in the day, the tehsil administration seized over 200kg polythene bags in various Mansehra markets. The sale and use of plastic bags was banned in the district last month.

A team led by assistant commissioner Javed Sardar Marwat also recovered over 50kg gutka from a shop, which was sealed afterward. It also seized 35 bundles of non-custom paid cigarettes and fined sellers.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2021