KARACHI: A cleanup operation directed by the Supreme Court about fifteen ago has started in the entire city which would greatly help in keeping smooth flow of vehicular traffic besides maintaining law and order situation. The SCP has declared binding on civic bodies and officials of district administrations to submit affidavits on completion of the task besides assuring that encroachments would not re-emerge. After the directives, District East, West and Central have started anti encroachment drives in their respective administrative areas with the help of Rangers and police which have started from 24th July. The assistance of Karachi Electric, Sui Southern Gas Company, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and Sindh Board of Revenue has also been sought in order to repair and replace civic underground and on ground amenities besides removing un-necessary installations. During the ongoing anti encroachment operation launched by district East administration, encroachments from Mosamyat Chowk to Jauhar Complex, Safoora Chowk on University Road, Jauhar Chowrangi to Shalimar Mobile Market and leading areas is underway with the help of security agencies without any resistance from the encroachers, informed Deputy Commissioner East. The drive which had started on 25th July , operation from Eurm Shopping Mall, Main Jauhar Chowrangi Road and Sunny Pride to Jauhar Moor has been underway. The campaign to be started on July 26th , areas of Sunny Pride to Jauhar Moor and New Sabzi Mandi would be cleared, Assistant Commissioner Gulzar-e-Hijri has informed. On July 27, the areas of Farya Chowk to MCC Lawn on Malik Society main road would be cleared from encroachments. Similarly encroachments from Awami Markaz to City Centre on Shahra-e-Faisal would be cleared under on the 31st . Strict legal action would also be taken against encroachers who would resist and interfere in functioning of anti encroachment officials, warned concerned district managements. In district West, anti encroachment operation in areas including Orangi, Mominabad, Baldia, Mauripur, Harbour and SITE would be completed by July 29, Deputy Commissioner West has maintained. District Central has also started anti encroachment drive in its administrative limits on phase wise basis besides planting of saplings on roadsides. Deputy Commissioner Central has hoped that drive would be accomplished by 3rd August. Anti encroachment drive in district South would be initiated in couple of days as market and roadsides areas of this district have been heavly encroached. “The concerned district administration and security agencies are chalking out foolproof arrangements for the drive in order to minimize any possible resistance from area encroachers, as in past concerned administration had faced strong resistance during such drives”, officials of the district revealed. Asif Jamil, DC West has informed that all encroachments in major parts of district have been cleared and operation in Harbour, Mauripur and SITE would be completed within next two weeks. For the drive in Korangi and Malir districts, the concerned administrations and area security agencies have been in process of chalking out foolproof measures to thwart any untoward incident and resistance from the encroachers . However in an ugly incident the police had to fire on the demonstrators in Gulshan e Iqbal 4A when the residents protested against SBCA’s operation of demolishing houses. The general public while hailing the operation has viewed that if the operation would be done with complete spirit would purge the society from illegal gratification of involved government officials to a great extent besides giving a better look to market areas. Published in Daily Times, July 27th 2017.