Anti-encroachment drive will begin in all the nine districts of Hyderabad division within few days
The irrigation department’s land, banks of canals and watercourses will be cleared of illegal constructions; Commissioner Hyderabad issues directives to ensure implementation of court orders
Hyderabad: Commissioner Hyderabad Division Muhammad Abbas Baloch has ordered removal of all the illegal constructions and other encroachments from the irrigation department’s land and banks of canals and watercourses in nine districts of the division.
“No one should be allowed to have permanent or temporary construction on state land,” he directed while presiding over a follow up meeting regarding the encroachments on government land on Saturday at his office attended by the Deputy Commissioners of various districts of the division through video link.
He said that respective district administrations should coordinate with other line departments to remove all the remaining illegal construction on the state land.
Commissioner urged the Deputy Commissioners to ensure immediate and effective action for the removal of all illegal structures built on the irrigation canals and water courses. He also directed officials of irrigation department to contact the respective Deputy Commissioners of their district and provide the details of encroachment on canals and irrigation department land as the effective and timely actions could be taken against the encroachers.
He also asked the Deputy Commissioners to hold meetings with the irrigation department officials of their respective districts at the earliest so that effective plan can be devised and implemented.
Commissioner also directed for the formation of anti-encroachment committees headed by the Deputy Commissioners at the district level to remove the encroachments from the state land so that the decisions of courts could be implemented in letter and spirit.
On the occasion, Chief Engineer Irrigation Haji Khan Jamali briefed in the meeting and informed that in first phase, all the remaining encroachments on the irrigation canals, water courses, protective dykes, and routes leading to canals will be removed by the end of February 28, 2021. For this, he said, more support from respective district administration will be needed.
He further told that the notices have also been issued to the encroachers after identifying the state/irrigation land illegally occupied by them.
Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Fuad Ghafar Soomro, who attended the meeting personally, assured full support and cooperation with irrigation department to remove the encroachments on irrigation land and canals in district Hyderabad. He requested Chief Engineer to share the details of encroachers of Hyderabad district who were served with the notices, so as strict actions could be taken accordingly.
The Deputy Commissioners of Badin, Dadu, Sujawal, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Matiyari, Jamshoro and Thatta attended the video conference and assured full support and cooperation to irrigation department for the anti-encroachment drive.
Managing Director, SIDA, Wali Muhammad Naich, Deputy Director Planning and Development Sanaullah Rind and other officials also attended the meeting. (PR)
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