LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) on Tuesday demolished land grabber Mansha Bomb’s furniture market as part of its anti-encroachment drive.
On the commencement of the anti-encroachment drive, over 25 showrooms and 20 commercial plots belonging to land grabbers in the market located at PIA road were also razed down.
The action comes a day after the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the Ministry of Interior to place Mansha Bomb and his sons on the Exit Control List (ECL).
Furthermore, the LDA also demolished shops in Anarkali during which one protesting shopkeeper had to be shifted to hospital after the debris of his shop fell on him. Another person was arrested on rioting charges by the police for protesting along with other shopkeepers and local residents.
During the drive, the authority is going to retrieve 31,687 kanal state land, 280 acres land of the forest department, eight plots in the Walled City, 636 kanal land of LDA, and 32 plots worth Rs2 billion of the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL).
The forest department plans on planting 50,000 plants on the retrieved land.
Speaking to the media, Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anwar-ul-Haq said, “Temporary and permanent setups in marketplaces will also be removed.”
He informed that the operation will start from Sabzazar truck stand, Anarkali, Willingdon Road and Urdu Bazaar.
“Notices have been sent to all illegal occupants in LDA, MCL and Walled City,” the DC said while adding, “Two teams consisting of 40 members each have been made. The teams will also have 20 trucks and two loaders.”
“Fire brigades, ambulances and police contingents will also accompany the teams,” he added.
Earlier last month, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar had announced an anti-encroachment operation against land mafia and illegal encroachments across the province.