PESHAWAR:An operation has been launched to curb illegal constructions, encroachments, and accumulation of debris along with the river Swat.
The decision to launch the anti-encroachment operation was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Commissioner Malakand Division Shaukat Ali Yousafzai at Commissioner’s office Saidu Sharif on Thursday.
The meeting was attended by Regional Police Officer Malakand Division Zeeshan Asghar, Deputy Commissioner Swat Junaid Khan, District Police Officer Swat Zahid Nawaz Marwat, and other officials.
The meeting also approved the formation of a committee to work out a strategy for identifying the encroachments and other illegal activities along with the river Swat.
The Assistant Commissioner Bahrain will chair the Committee and SDO Irrigation and TMO Bahrain will be part of the Committee. SDO Irrigation has been assigned the responsibility of identifying encroachments under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa River Protection Act amended 2014.
Chairing the meeting, Commissioner Malakand Division expressed outrage over illegal constructions and debris being dumped around the Swat River and said that such behavior toward the natural environment especially with the Swat River is intolerable. He said strict action should be taken against the encroachers.
Shaukat Ali Yousafzai said that a committee is being formed to move forward under a comprehensive plan. On the other hand, the committee has started its work and on the recommendations of the committee, the Swat district administration has sent 21 people to jail under section 3 of the maintenance of public order ordinance.