No political pressure will be accepted to halt the drive for removing constructions on waterways banks, Khan clarified
PESHAWAR
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has directed the authority concerned to take stern action against the encroachments and illegal construction activities being carried out on river and irrigation canals banks. Mahmood Khan also placed a complete ban over new constructions on river banks and other waterways in the province.
“No political pressure or any other interference should be accepted in this regard,” he clarified.
Chairing a meeting regarding the anti-Encroachment drive in the province on Wednesday, the Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to enforce Section 144 against the construction of new houses, hotels and all other commercial and non-commercial infrastructure alongside waterways including River Swat, River Panjkora, River Kunhar and canals of the Irrigation Department across the province.
He made it clear that there should be no leniency regarding encroachments, adding that all the stakeholders would have to fulfill their responsibilities for the purpose and, in the future, no department will issue NOC for construction or establishment of new infrastructure near waterways.
The Chief Minister said that illegal encroachments have resulted in negative impacts on the economy and the loss of precious human lives and property during the 2010 and recent floods.
Mahmood Khan directed the irrigation department to initiate work on identifying/ demarking flood-prone sites in the province and said that ignorance of people regarding the issue does not debar government agencies and departments from their duties and responsibilities.
The relevant rules and regulations need to be implemented in letter and spirit to stop illegal encroachments.
“No construction either by the private or government sector shall be allowed in the future to carry out construction activities on river banks,” he added.
The Chief Minister further directed short-term, mid-term and long-term planning to completely eliminate encroachments, especially alongside rivers in Hazara and Malakand Division.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister also directed to speed up work on the markings for identifying high flood/water in waterways and to involve relevant stakeholders and experts in order to have a complete and comprehensive study to this effect.
He emphasized the need for construction of small dams to reduce risks of flood damage under long-term planning and directed the concerned authorities to submit appropriate proposals for this purpose.
The forum was informed that so far more than 100 encroachments along river swat have been removed in five different operations in Kalam, Madyan, Bahrain, Fiza Ghat and Mingora.
Besides, hotels and boundary walls re-constructed within the demarcated flood plain of Kalam Bazar have also been demolished.
It was further informed that site data of new, old and re-constructed encroachment spots is regularly collected by the irrigation department and submitted to the local administration for issuance of notices and to carry out anti-Encroachment operations accordingly.
