LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) teams retrieved precious state land in Sabzazar and Gujjarpura (China Scheme), after demolishing illegal structures as part of an ongoing crackdown on land mafia in the city.

`Around 120 kanal land, consisting of several 5 to 20 marla plots, has alreadybeenretrievedin Johar Town during various operations. And now similar operations have also been launched in Sabzazar and Gujjarpura housing schemes where a number of plots are under illegal occupation of the land mafia,` an official source in the LDA toldDawn on Sunday.

The official requesting anonymity said the land mafia has been found involved in receiving rent from illegal occupants, mostly nomads, who were residing on the plots in shanties.

Besides, he said some officials, in connivance with land mafia, also allowed permanent encroachments on LDAowned plots by preparing fake ownership documents.

The official said the pace of land retrieval activities has been accelerated following the frequent surprise field visits by LDA Director General Mr Tahir Farooq.

The DG also paid visits on Sunday to various housing schemes, includ-ing Sabzazar and Johar Town and supervised the ongoing operations. He also visited various city roads to see the patchwork being carried out there by the LDA and Tepa.

GAS THEFT: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) teams on Sunday disconnected another 125 illegal connections for gas theft, imposing fines amounting to Rs3.7 million on those involved in the crime.

In Lahore, according to a spokesman, 26 illegal connections were severed, along with one for compressor use, resulting in fines of Rs 1.63m.

The Gujranwala team disconnected 4 illegal connections, imposingtotal Rs0.36m fine on violators, while in Gujrat, one illegal connection was removed, besides two others for compressor use.

Similarly, Faisalabad saw four disconnections, with fine totaling up to Rs0.05 million.

In Sheikhupura the SNGPL teams severed five connections, along with slapping total fine of Rs0.67m.

In Multan, 20 connections were cut due to illegal usage,and for compressor use, while in Sahiwal four illegal connections were severed and two others cut for compressor use, with Rs0.04m fine.

The Bahawalpur team disconnected 12 connections for compressor use.