Encroachment mafia strangles Muzaffarabad’s Gujra Nala, thousands at risk

MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The infrastructure of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, is in great disarray, with the municipality and MDA conniving with the encroachment mafia, which has taken over the Gujra Nala.

The Gujra Nala used to be 200 feet wide; it’s a mere 20 feet wide now, placing thousands of residents in mortal danger from a flood.

According to Mayor Muzaffarabad Syed Sikandar Gilani, the encroachment mafia, with the help of the Municipal Corporation and MDA, has taken over government land with encroachments in the entire city.

He blamed the previous government for the plight of encroachment, saying their incompetence led to the occupation of government land and created encroachments.

Talking to Kashmir Digital, Mayor Muzaffarabad Syed Sikandar Gilani said that immediately after the earthquake, due to the incompetence of the people occupying the seats, people occupied government land, and encroachments were also established, which created problems.

Encroachments have been made everywhere in the city, the Municipal Corporation and MDA were supposed to get construction done immediately after the earthquake according to the master plan, but at that time, great incompetence was done.

He said that the Gujra Nala was encroached on in the dark of night, if people think, if the water comes again, there will be a loss to them too, loss of life and property.

We broke the encroachments inside the Nala and vacated the place of Neelam Bridge, but they said that it was excessive, and there was a lot of noise, if there is so much noise when lifting a cart, then when someone’s house is demolished, it will be said that the roof was taken away from the people.

He said that we are trying not to allow anyone to encroach, we will not allow anyone to encroach on the Gojra Nallah.