Ban on building houses along Ravi

LAHORE: The Punjab government has imposed an immediate ban on construction of new houses along the banks of the River Ravi.

Heavy fines would be imposed on han violators and they might be put behind the bars, officials said on Wednesday.

It is pertinent to mention that thousands of families have been building houses illegally along the river banks and government agencies have failed to check this practice. Now a ban has been imposed to discourage further construction along the river.

According to a survey, hundreds of families are residing on the dry riverbed without taking into consideration the danger of sudden rise in the water level.

An Irsa official said there were chances of large-scale damages if India released water into the Ravi. He said mushroom growth of houses close to the river could be dangerous, especially in summer.

According to a city district government official, a land mafia is operating to promote 1(atchi abadis in the area.— APP