Operation against illegal brick manufacturing launched

Islamabad : The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration has launched a major operation against the illegal brick kilns operating within the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) limits. On the first day today the ICT teams, supported by Islamabad Police contingents, sealed as many as 40 illegal brick kilns operating in Tarnol area close to the Grand Trunk (GT) Road.The operation was launched when the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad, Amir Ali Ahmed, finally took notice of the serious public health and environmental pollution issues being caused by these illegal brick kilns operating within the ICT limits.The brick kilns sealed by the ICT Administration were operating without any ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC), the sources in the ICT said. Most of these brick kilns were violating the environmental protection rules, he added.The brick kilns have been using old tyres as fuel to fire the kilns, emitting highly hazardous fumes and soot, which was causing serious pulmonary and respiratory tract infections in the people in surrounding areas.Meanwhile, the CDA is continuing with its anti-encroachment operations in sector E-12. The spokesman for the Authority said that the CDA has further geared-up the on-going anti-encroachment operation in sector E-12.“The operation to get possession of acquired land continued on Saturday despite weekly holiday. During the action taken on Saturday, several illegal constructions and structures built on the acquired land were razed and several kanals of state land was recovered from the adverse possession,” the spokesperson said.He said that the operation was participated by the officers and staff of Enforcement Directorate, Land & Rehabilitation Directorate of the CDA as well as the officers of the ICT Administration and Islamabad Police. A contingent of Rangers was also deployed to prevent any untoward situation. During this operation heavy machinery of MPO Directorate was also used to demolish constructions from acquired land.The number of rooms demolished during the on-going anti-encroachment operation increased to 136 while the illegal boundary walls demolished increased to 26.“All these rooms and boundary walls were illegally constructed on the acquired land, leading to retrieval of substantial area from adverse possession. In addition to this, an illegal settlement spread over 150 kanals of state land comprising cottages, tents and other structures was also demolished and the land was recovered from illegal occupants,” the CDA spokesman said.He said that some miscreants started pelting stones on the teams taking part in the on-going anti-encroachment operation, causing injuries to operator of chain shovel and five police constables who were shifted to hospitals. The miscreants involved in this incident were arrested by the Islamabad Police.He said that the operation against encroachments on state land will continue without any fear or favour. In order to listen and resolve compensation issues of the locals, the Authority has already established a camp office of Land and Rehabilitation Directorate at sector E-12 so that compensation issues could be resolved on the spot.

from The News International - Islamabad http://bit.ly/2VoluZ2