LAHORE, Aug 16: A number of unauthorized residential colonies have been established on the bed of the Ravi and more are coming up despite a ban on such constructions at the river.

All kinds of constructions are banned on the river bed because they can be flooded during the rainy season every year, which can result in loss of life and property. Site plans cannot be approved for houses on the river bed, and all the structures raised without approval are required to be demolished.

A number of residential colonies, workshops and stores have been built on the river bed along the Bund Road and more continue to be built with the connivance of Ravi Town and Data Ganj Bakhsh Town officials, who are responsible for checking such constructions. Residents of these colonies vacate their homes and move to the camps set up by the government for flood-affected people on Bund Road when there is a threat of flood during the rainy season. They return to their houses after the rainy season is over.

Houses and commercial structures continue to be built on the river bed where land is cheaper than the areas inside the Bund Road. Building inspectors allow constructions without sanctioning the site plans, allegedly after being obliged by the landowners.