Vendors have marred the beauty of Shalamar Gardens – included in the World Heritage List -by violating the ban on construction within an area of 200-feet around historical sites. The office of Shalamar Town administration is located opposite the fruit stalls and other wooden structures constructed by encroachers.
Chaudhry Bashir, the caretaker of the garden, held the town government responsible for not taking action against encroachers. He said the town administration was responsible for keeping the 200-feet area around the garden free of constructions.
Residents of the area said they were surprised to see ‘encroachers’ returning to the controversial ground located near the town nazim and the TMO offices after they were evicted by the city government.
The News survey found that fruit sellers had occupied the disputed land in front of the garden along the main GT Road. The city government used to set up weekly Sunday bazaar on this piece of land until the Supreme Court of Pakistan barred it from doing so. The CGDL later launched a crackdown on vendors who had established concrete and wooden structures in the ground and along the road. Residents of the area said ‘encroachers’ returned when the CDGL and town administration became lenient with them after the ouster of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.
Sanitary conditions along the garden’s wall are also pathetic and need immediate attention. The garden is now associated with heaps of garbage and solid waste that put off visitors.
One can find large heaps of garbage and solid waste along the outer walls of the garden. Besides giving an ugly look, encroachments are reflective of the town government’s lack of interest in ensuring cleanliness and hygiene in the area.
Residents said the empty land outside the Shalimar Garden was historically owned by government but it was gifted to a local Nawab during British rule. They said the Nawab’s family wanted to construct a multi-storey building whereas the Archaeology Department wanted to construct the main entrance and a car park on this land.
The boundary walls of the garden also highlight the fact that the town administration has failed to remove encroachments and clean the area. Heaps of garbage are seen along the side walls as well as the back wall of the garden. Vendors park their vehicles and machinery on the footpath of the garden and several furniture manufacturers use this place as workshop, painting pieces of furniture and giving them final touches there.
Jamil, a local resident, said people of the area had requested the town administration to convert the site into a park as it would beautify the garden as well as help reduce Particulate Matter (dust) around the garden.
Abdul Mateen, another resident, said the town had several historical monuments, including the Shalimar Gardens.
He said the administration was not responsible for the maintenance of historical sites but it was bound to remove encroachments around the monuments and keep the area clean.
A large number of local residents have appealed to Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif to take serious note of encroachments and poor cleanliness around the garden.
They have demanded the CM visit the area and see the situation on ground. They said residents of North Lahore were feeling neglected and the government must act as discontent was spreading.
When contacted, Shalimar TMO Tariq Mehmood expressed ignorance about the presence of encroachments in the ground outside the Shalimar Gardens. Tariq said the town will start an anti-encroachment operation on Saturday (today) to remove encroachments.