CDA completes operation against encroachment on Margalla Hills

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Sunday completed its three-day anti-encroachment operation in the Margalla Hills.

Construction was being carried out in the area.

Sources said recently Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the CDA to remove all types of encroachments from Margalla Hills. Following this, CDA conducted some operations in the hills but the main operation was conducted in Talhar area on Sunday.

Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, CDA Director Enforcement Syed Fatehul Manan and senior police officials were also present on the occasion.

Encroachments removed on PM’s directives

Locals resisted the operation but they were informed by the deputy commissioner that as per law no one was allowed to change the landscape of Margalla Hills by carrying out construction activities.

“Today, we completed our operation in Talhar area and now a plantation drive will be conducted in the area,” said an official of the CDA. He said construction in the area was being carried out by private developers, but land there was reserved not for construction but grassing.

The operation was conducted on the directive of the CDA chairman, who is also chief commissioner.

Following his directive, on Wednesday, five people were also arrested as they were protecting the construction site, where after levelling of land, plots were being carved out.

Sources said there is around 4,000 kanals of land in the said area, which belongs to local people or those who purchased it from them, but the status of this land is not meant for construction.

“Land mafia had started illegal constructions at the foot of Margalla hills in Islamabad for some time now, on which the CDA administration with the help of district administration and Islamabad police took timely action and vacated the mountain,” read a press release issued on Sunday.

In Talhar and Gokina suburbs of Islamabad, the Enforcement Department demolished several illegal structures with the help of heavy machinery and freed them from the clutches of land mafia.

Several land grabbers were detained and were taken into custody, the press release said, adding CDA on the directive of the federal government has been engaged in continuous operations against illegal encroachments and constructions, which has resulted in the retrieval of land worth billions of rupees.