KARACHI, July 12: The process of removal of encroachments on public properties, including amenity and ST plots and roads, has almost come to a standstill owing to delay being caused in the issuance of NOCs (No-objection certificates) by the Sindh chief minister’s secretariat.

Sources in different town municipal administrations said since the Sindh chief minister has made it mandatory upon the municipal authorities to seek permission from his secretariat prior to removing encroachments from their respective jurisdictions, a considerable time is being consumed in getting the required NOC from the CM Secretariat and hence the pace of removal of encroachments was being hampered.

“Even if we wish to remove encroachment on a road for its widening, we are required to send a summary to the CM Secretariat for obtaining an NOC, but in most of the cases such summaries remain stuck in the Secretariat for a long time,” remarked the Nazim of New Karachi Town, Mohammad Hanif Surti.

Asked if NOCs are required in the case of villages only, he said as a matter of fact the town municipal administrations are required to seek prior permission from the CM Secretariat whether encroachment is on roadside in the form of hutments or grabbing of amenity and ST plots by the land mafia.

Quoting an instance, the Nazim told a group of newsmen that in the wake restrictions imposed by the CM, the town municipal administration officials are unable to widen a busy road of the town as they cannot remove encroachers without getting an NOC.

“We have already furnished a summary in this regard, but the required NOC is still awaited,” he added.

“How strange is this that although the width of a road has been reduced owing to presence of roadside hutments, the TMA officials who are willing to widen the road for ensuring smooth flow of traffic cannot take any action against those occupying public property unless an NOC is issued,” he deplored.

Prior to imposition of restrictions, vis-à-vis removal of encroachments, the New Karachi Town was widely acclaimed for its bold decision of retrieving over three-mile-long public property after demolishing even concrete houses although all those uprooted from there were the supporters of Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Confirming that an NOC is a must for removing encroachers and those illegally occupying public property such as amenity plots, ST plots and even roads, officials of other town municipal administrations said such an `uncalled for’ restriction was, on the one hand, hampering the process of removing encroachments and, on the other, encouraging the land mafia.

Accusing some officials of the land departments and police stations concerned of taking illegal gratification from those illegally occupying public property, including roads, service roads and footpaths, they said no one can dare encroach upon public property unless they are patronized by the officials of land departments and police stations concerned.