Encroachments in many shapes have not only spoiled the beauty of Kasur district but are causing inconvenience to pedestrians in congested areas. A survey conducted by Business Recorder reveals that the encroachments were thriving in various parts of the district despite several campaigns launched by Tehsil Municipal Administration.
Movable and immovable encroachments have marred the beauty of main bazaar, Railway Road, Chandni Chowk, Baba Bulley Shah Road, Circular Road, Chowk Kot Murad Khan and Sabzi Mandi Chowk. Besides, motorcycle-rickshaws and tongas hamper the traffic flow on main roads. Traffic police have failed to clamp down on encroachers.
Talking to this scribe, a police official Shabbir Shah claimed that the department had many times acted against those creating hurdles, but always some influential people rescued them. Trade union leader Chaudhry Muhammad Akram Mughal said the immovable cart owners were paying taxes regularly to TMA, so they were legally running their businesses.
It is learnt that the cart owners, who occupied places in front of shops, pay monthly amounts to shopkeepers. A cart owner, Nazim, justifies his business by saying, "I am a poor man and facing hardships in earning because no shopkeeper allows me to stand in front of his shop without greasing his palms.
When contacted, Tehsil Nazim Agha Naveed Hashim Rizvi said he would deal encroachers with iron fist. "Whenever TMA plans to take action against the encroachers, they come to his office and promise to remove encroachments", he added.
Moreover, local general bus stand has no waiting rooms, lighting arrangements, potable water or sanitation. Passengers have to brave the vagaries of the weather as well as the sight and smell of heaps of garbage lying around.
There is no water even for drinking or ablution. The total lack of security arrangements is evident in the fact that none of the tubelights at the place is functional. Passengers fell insecure in the evening when pickpockets could easily deprive them of cash under cover of darkness.
The passengers have urged the high-ups to arrange lights, ensure provision of drinking water, adopt security measures and build waiting rooms at the place. Meanwhile, two labourers crushed to death by a speeding bus here at village Jambar in the limits of Police Station Phoolnagar.
Shakeel Ahmad along with his friend Jamil Kalia were on their way to home from a factory on a bicycle, when a rashly driven bus coming from the opposite side hit them, resultantly both died on the spot. The bus driver fled the scene. Phoolnagar police are looking into the matter.