KARACHI, May 6: The Defence Housing Authority has decided to either demolish the Sea View apartments or give them a face-lift by sharing the cost with the owners of these apartments. Another option is to give them alternative accommodation.

This was stated by DHA Administrator Brig Asif Ghazali at a meeting with a delegation of Defence Residents Society led by its president, Mr Zafar Iqbal.

The Sea View apartments were built 30 years ago, have completed their life span, are in a dilapidated condition and spoil the overview and landscape of the beach.

The administrator asked the residents to give their options and reply to the notices already sent to them by the DHA.

The delegation pointed out that the non-utilization fee for a vacant plot in developed phases — already very high — had been further raised by the DHA to Rs30 per yard per annum which was a source of hardship to the plot-owners.

The administrator suggested that in case the plot-owners built boundary walls around their vacant plots, they might be exempted from the non-utilization fee.

The DRS delegation also raised the issue of the perennial problem of water shortage and urged the Authority to expedite the construction of the desalination plant which had already been approved in principle and, in the meantime, ensure an equitable supply of water to all residents.

In response to the complaint concerning poor street lighting in parts of the DHA, the Administrator held out an assurance that work on repairing defective lights would soon start.

Mr Zafar Iqbal suggested that Friday prayer timings in DHA mosques be staggered from 1pm to 2pm for the convenience of the resident. Brig (R) Fayazur Rahman, Director, Religious Affairs, promised to look into this suggestion.

The DRS delegation also invited attention to the poor state of roads, dividers and footpaths and to missing manhole covers. The DHA administrator instructed the officers concerned to take prompt action to improve the situation, according to a press release.