An encroachment is any infringement by one person or entity on the rights of a person or an entity. Vendor clustering on the roads, shopkeepers exhibiting their commodities on footpath is a common view to be seen in the cities. Pedestrian have to walk on the road and are at a high risk of being hit by a vehicle. Pedestrians can even slow down the traffic flow. Customers around a vendor can block the road.
Two-way traffic is not possible in this situation. In case of emergency these encroachments are a great hurdle to the institutions providing emergency services like fire brigade, ambulances and police force. People do not realise the seriousness of the problem. They abide by the rules only when the municipal committee becomes active and takes action against them. For a day or two they do not transgress their limits but soon revert to their old routine.
Severe action was taken against the shopkeepers and plazas who had not constrained within the boundary line of their property. Action was taken only after warnings were given to them and advertisements were printed in the newspapers. A clean sweep of commercial establishment that encroach public spaces was carried out but the debris of broken stairs and walking path is still rendering those places useless. This should be removed too so that it is easy for the pedestrians to walk without having any discomfort or injury.
FATIMA ALI
Lahore
