ISLAMABAD: After heavy spell of rain after Eidul Azha, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) on Friday started a survey to identify illegal structures constructed on nullahs and drains which created hurdle in smooth flow of rainwater.

It also removed illegal structures in three localities in cantonment areas including washrooms, backyards, rooms and at some places houses.

RCB Cantonment Executive Officer Imran Gulzar told Dawn that the people had constructed the illegal structures on nullahs and its banks in connivance with District Land Revenue department.

However, he said the civic body had started the survey of cantonment areas especially in Jan colony, Banaras Colony, Shalley Valley, Peshawar Road Lane 4, Westridge and adjoining areas to identify illegal structures and houses.

“We checked many houses in recent past and the residents produced legal documents issued to them by Patwaris (land Revenue officials). As it is not military land so the land revenue officials allocated the Fard to those who constructed houses on drains,” he said.

He said that due to encroachments on drains, the rainwater entered houses and shops and it destroyed the home appliances besides damaging structures.

He said the issue was presented to Station Commander and requested to ask Rawalpindi division commissioner and deputy commissioner to take necessary action or investigate how patwaris issued Fard to the people who made structures on nullahs or even on banks of nullahs.

“As per law, no building can be constructed on nullahs, drains, water channels and its banks. But in the past few years, such structures constructed without any check,” he said. He said that it was difficult for the civic body to demolish the structure in large number but we had no option but to remove them.

“We have decided to remove such structures after monsoon as the building waste will further chock the nullahs,” he said.

He said the most vulnerable areas in cantonment was Jan Colony, Banaras Colony, Shallay Valley, Lane 4 Peshawar Road, Westridge, Chak Madad Khan and area near I.J. Principal Road. “We are making efforts to clear the nullah for the smooth flow of rainwater in coming days as Met Office has predicted another heavy spell of rain in the coming days,” he said.

Mr Gulzar said the RCB on Friday demolished structure on nullahs in Jan Colony, Shallay Valley and Banaras Colony as people constructed washrooms and rooms on nullahs.

“In first phase, we cleared the drains from encroachments and obstacles and in the next phase after monsoon, we will launch a proper drive to clear cantonment areas from all kinds of encroachments,” he said.

On the other hand, the residents of the cantonment said that the civic body sanitation branch failed to clear the nullahs before the monsoon that was why heavy rain played havoc on Wednesday (July 13).

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehabaz directed Water and Sanitation Agency to help cantonment authorities in clearing the nullahs.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2022