Senate panel orders removal of all river encroachments within two months

The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources has granted a two-month deadline to remove all encroachments along riverbanks.

A meeting of the Senate committee, chaired by Senator Shahadat Awan, was held to review the removal of encroachments along rivers and natural waterways.

The committee gave authorities two months to clear all such encroachments and asked for a detailed report.

Chairman Shahadat Awan expressed displeasure, stating that although the committee had earlier requested a report on river encroachments, it had still not been provided. He said the committee’s directives were not being implemented.

Showing strong dissatisfaction, the chairman noted that 897 encroachments currently exist along rivers and water channels, adding, “We want results.”

He warned that if the encroachments were not removed before the upcoming monsoon season, it would constitute a criminal act. He added that failure to remove them would be considered a serious administrative lapse.

The committee stressed that clearing all encroachments within two months is essential.

It is worth noting that in February 2025, the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources had already expressed deep concern over encroachments obstructing rivers and water pathways, directing the Federal Flood Commission to eliminate them within a month.

During that earlier meeting, chaired by Senator Shahadat Awan, the Secretary of Water Resources had informed the committee that the draft of the Dam Safety Act was ready and would be finalized within two months, with tunnel safety also being added to the legislation.

Officials from the Federal Flood Commission reported that as of August 2024, Punjab had no encroachments in river or water channels.

However, by 18 February 2025, 153 encroachments had appeared in the Sargodha zone and 676 in the Multan zone.

Lahore and Sahiwal zones had none, while data from Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan, and Potohar zones was still pending.

The committee chairman demanded that SUPARCO’s data on encroachments be submitted, stating that these obstructions in river pathways are causing destruction. He questioned why complete data from all zones had not been provided.