IN the aftermath of the 2007 monsoon season in Karachi, a large area of the Defence Housing Society was inundated with rainwater, resulting in damage to properties and disruption of businesses. The lack of a proper drainage system exposed the incompetence and negligence of Pakistan’s largest real estate developer. After a protest campaign led by Defence Residents Association, in 2009 DHA constructed drains on streets where water would stagnate.

Although this mitigated the issue to a large extent, the work was ill-planned, with drains (of poor quality to begin with) zigzagging in the middle of the street. Subsequently, DHA passed the cost of their own faulty planning onto property owners by charging hefty ‘refurbishment’ charges. At present, the slotted concrete slabs that cover the drains have deteriorated to the extent that it damages vehicles’ suspensions and tyres.

Recently, the drainage slots on Khayaban-i-Rahat (in front of the CBC headquarters) and adjoining streets have been filled with gravel and bitumen. I am not privy to the logic behind this, but would appreciate being told how the authorities intend to protect the residents’ properties from being inundated in the event of a heavy downpour.

Farooq Ashfaq

Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2017