KARACHI: Authorities conducted anti-encroachment operation around the major rain drains on Wednesday, a week after heavy rains pounded Karachi, wrecking havoc with the already ill-maintained civic infrastructure of the city.
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's (KMC) anti-encroachment department launched the drive to demolish illegally constructed houses, shops, and other structures along the city's natural storm water drains.
As per the officials of KMC, the drive was started at Café Piyala, Teen Hatti and New Karachi from where commercial encroachments such as cattle markets, parking sites etc. were removed.
In the first phase, they said shops built along the nullahs will be pulled down in days to come. The drive is being aided by police alongside the KMC staff, amid fears of possible resistance from occupants of illegal structures.
They said shades erected along nullahs will be removed in the first phase while illegal houses will be razed in the second phase that will begin after their occupants are provided with alternative places to reside. The occupants of these houses will not be rendered homeless.
The teams of K-Electric and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) also arrived near Café Pyala before the operation began.
Earlier in morning, the worried residents of Liaqatabad FC area held a protest demonstration when they were reportedly asked by the district administration to vacate their homes. The protest caused a traffic jam, causing hardships for the motorists to make their ways. However, they called off the protest when the police and provincial government reassured them that the drive would be conducted only against commercial encroachments.
Earlier Sindh government spokesman Murtaza Wahab said no operation would take place against the people's homes. Wahab took to twitter as saying, "I clarified that no operation will take place against people's homes/residences. The current exercise is against commercial establishment on the encroached."
Pak Sarzameen Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan also urged the government to ensure alternate homes to the affectees before their homes are demolished.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020