In order to avoid any flood like situation in the residential colonies and farms situated in and around river and canals, illegally occupied land in the dried inland waterway, are being taken over by Urban Improvement Trust today and illegal constructions is being demolished.

This anti-encroachment movement started today from Thur-ki-Paal and will continue till all encroached land is recovered. According to the UIT, there are 172 illegal encroachments that have been spotted from Thur to Udaisagar and the re-acquisition process might take weeks to accomplish.

According to one of the engineers, the process has been carried out through the land-map UIT has with them. “If anyone had occupied the land for residential and commercial use and if it is not in our map, we are considering it illegal and an encroachment”.

“Some locals had occupied additional land for farming and have made a boundary wall on it which is illegal and will be demolish by UIT”, says the officer.

The UIT team faced no resistance from anyone as members from the Sukher Police Team were also accompanying them.

According to information provided, the overflowing water of Thur collects in the Chikalwas feeder and from there it is routed from one side to Ayad River and from another side to Fateh Sagar via Madar.

Most Senior Officials of the UIT, including Engineers, Tehsildar and Patwaris of the region were also present during the operations.

Report and Pics by Sayeed Ahmed