CDA helpless in purging capital of encroachers

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) seems helpless, as it failed to purge the federal capital of encroachers despite frequent operations to dismantle their makeshift, huts and kiosks.
Almost all the big markets of the federal capital are in the grip of encroachers, who not only create hurdles for visitors, but also present an ugly picture of market place. Although, anti-encroachment drive continued throughout the year, the CDA could not succeed in removing these illegal encroachments from the markets.
The encroachers in connivance with the shopkeepers have made it difficult to freely move on the footpaths. Those markets, which are in the grip of encroachers, include, Aabpara market, Super Market, Melody Market, Jinnah Super Market, Karachi company and the most prominent juncture of twin cities, Faizabad.
The CDA anti-encroachment squads launch operation almost twice a week at Faizabad, a hub that connects Islamabad with Rawalpindi, but not to avail. The major reason of the failure of the operation against encroachers is said to be greasing the palms of CDA staffers. Prior to launching the operation, CDA officials inform the encroachers about the drive, told one encroacher at Faizabad on condition of anonymity.
The situation in Aabpara, Super and other markets is also the same where encroachers used to pay Rs 8000 to 20,000 to shop owners who allow them to build stalls on footpaths in front of their shops. Adeel who runs business in Super Market said that space for kiosk or cabin can be obtained by paying a sum of Rs 8000-20,000 in Super market, but it all depends upon location. Another shopkeeper of Aabapara Market said that he paid Rs 14000 to shop owner, adding he did not care of CDA operation.
When contacted CDA spokesman, Ramzan Sajid, he said that the Authority was doing its best to remove encroachments from the markets. He further said that there was significant development as CDA has succeeded in removing encroachments from a major portion of the capital. He said that Market Association has also been asked to remove encroachments otherwise stern action would be taken against them, but they pay no heed to the warning. He said the DMA and Enforcement Directorate were busy in purging city of encroachments.