LAHORE - The anti-encroachment drive, going on in all towns with pump and show, is going to be marred by knee-jerk strategy, mismanagement and lack of coordination. This was the first campaign attracted the attention of Punjab Minister for Local Government Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa who warned of strict action against those TMOs who will fail to check the encroachment while addressing the TMOs conference at Jinnah Hall. The campaign was launched by the CDGL on the directions of chairman task force (road rehabilitation) and (SWM) Khawaja Ahmed Hassan some days ago. The authorities set two days as deadline to each town. Despite the fact that the campaign has engaged first time all TMOs and officials of WASA, LDA, TEPA, CDGL, WAPDA, Sui GAS, Police, Railway and SWM to bear the results. But it is appears to fall short of its targets as set by the authority concerned. Sources privy to the development said that major reason that pushing the anti-encroachment campaign toward failure was to deny the participation of concerned departments in decision-making process. They said that authority concerned did not bother to hold consultative meeting to put the things in order before the launch of the operation. Setting an ill-conceived time frame for the completion of campaign was the other reason, sources disclosed. They said that every town was ordered to complete the drive in two days without knowing number and size of encroachments in their respective area. TMOs including Data Ganjbaksh Town, Ravi Town, Shalimar Town and Samanabad Town expressed their reservations and sought more time to make the campaign a success. But, the authority concerned answered that they wanted compliance of order rather than arguments and explanation, sources added. Sources said that police authorities were also not taken on board to execute the drive. Police officials were just ordered to provide security to squads to be involved in the anti-encroachment drive. But they were not asked how they would accommodate the demand. As a result, a number of complaints were received by the DCO office, stating police was not providing security personnel during the campaign. A number of TMOs had written letters to SP (security) in this regard. Ravi Town also demanded police force on November 28. District Co-ordination Officer (DCO) Sajjad Ahmad Bhutta said that the operation would prove to be result oriented. This time we are removing the permanent structures besides others that have spilled out of its building designs, he said. The operation was launched as an act of war, as encroachments remain a major stigma on the beauty of the city and a key obstacle in the resolution of many public problems, including traffic, he added. Haphazard encroachments along roadsides, footpaths, bus stops, vital installations and parking space in commercial buildings will also be removed. It may be recalled that concerned MPAs were also involved in the campaign, But, they could seldom show their presence. With launch of anti-encroachment campaign, the City was divided into three sectors. Sector I included Data Gunj Buksh Town, Shalimar Town and Ravi Town. Sector II included Gulberg Town, Aziz Bhatti Town, Wagha Town and Sector III included Samnadbad Town, Allama Iqbal Town and Nishtar Town. Three squads were provided frond End Loader, two dumpers, one truck other technical stuff. During the anti-encroachment campaign that continued on Friday, squads removed the encroachment from Ravi Toll Plaza, Jalal Shadi Hall and GT road Shahdara. Samnabad Town operation cleared the area from Muslim Town Mor to Naqsha Stop, Shama Road, and Punch Road. Areas of Chuburji, Pir Ghazi Road, Chaudhary Colony and Pakki Thathi. During operation in Gulberg Town, squad removed encroachment from Garhi Shahu to Allama Iqbal Road and Borwala Chowk to Empress Road.