NWFP bans construction along streams, river sides

The government of NWFP has decided to impose ban on all sorts of construction and demolition of the already existing structures and remove encroachments along the both sides of rivers and seasonal streams to prevent destructions and loss of human lives and properties.
The decision was taken in a meeting held here in Civil Secretriat with NWFP Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour in the chair. The meeting, besides others was attended by the NWFP Minister for Social Welfare Sitara Ayaz, District Nazim Peshawar, Haji Ghulam Ali as well as the revenue and irrigation department authorities. The Senior Minister and Parliamentary leader of ANP Bashir Ahmad Bilour on this occasion directed the concerned authorities to immediately remove all encroachments alongside rivers and streams to avoid the mass flood devastations in future.
A committee headed by the ACO Peshawar and comprising officials of CDMD, Irrigation, TMO and DRO was constituted that will submit report to the Senior Minister about removal of encroachments right from Khyber Agency to Kabul River Peshawar. The committee will pinpoint and suggest measures to remove encroachments on rivers and nullahs sides.
The meeting expressed deep sense of shock over the mass devastations of recent flash floods and loss of precious human beings, expressed heartfelt sympathies with all the affected families and made clear that the government would not give them any feelings of loneliness in these odd hours but would extend all possible relief and support to them.
The Senior Minister while taking strong exception of again creating encroachments on both sides of rivers and nullahs at many places, directed the concerned authorities to stop such type of construction works forthwith and take harsh steps for the purpose.
He also directed for providing assistance to those working on cleanliness of natural streams and nullahs on self-help basis. Bilour cautioned that no lethargy or negligence would be tolerated on part of the concerned authorities in this regard while he would like to take on spot actions on illegal constructions. He said, he himself witnessed such type of encroachments alongside the rivers and nullahs including the Budhani area.
He asked the police, administration, District and TMA authorities to jointly work for cleaning all the areas from encroachments in larger public interest and hence provide the people a sense of protection in case of future flash floods.