KARACHI, Aug 8: The Defence Housing Authority has clarified its position and role in the wake of the monsoon rains in the city. A statement issued here on Tuesday said that some reports had appeared in a section of press undermining the role of DHA during the current devastating spell of torrential rains. “This is perhaps a misleading impression and contrary to the factual position,” the statement said adding that the rain emergency plan of DHA and Clifton Cantonment Board was put into effect with the start of rains.

The designated emergency teams worked relentlessly round-the-clock and were successful in keeping all the major roads of Defence functional within two days.

This was achieved by carrying out intensive suction and pumping operation to drain out the accumulated rainwater. The life also returned to normal soon in majority of DHA areas.

The DHA employed all the available resources including pumping and suction pumps, employment of a large number of sanitary force, cesspool vehicles, mobile hydrants and through vigilant monitoring of the situation by DHA/ CCB officials.

It was however quite true that the best of efforts and plans could not fully meet the enormity of havoc caused by the intermittent downpour, the statement admitted. The rain onslaught did cause unprecedented disruption of life in some areas.

The inherent problem arising out of location of some DHA area in low lying areas with no or inadequate drainage outlets and the battered civic system compounded the problem to a great extent.

The residents of a few low-lying areas of DHA including Phase-IV, Badar Commercial, Ph-II (Ext) and Saba Avenue had to face the wrath of rains. However, the DHA did not leave any stone unturned to restore the situation to normal in the shortest possible time.

The devastating rain situation was tackled on war footings under a well chalked out strategy. The flow of traffic within DHA remained smooth and unobstructed throughout the rains.

In this regard, Korangi Road remained unaffected throughout because of provision of proper storm water drainage system in its construction design.

The assertion by the KESC that the DHA did not co-operate with the power utility to facilitate it in repair works for restoring electric supply was simply fabricated. No such incident happened nor did any KESC team ever contact any DHA official for the purpose.

Meanwhile, the DHA and the CCB have launched an intense cleaning drive of the entire area. Germicide spray and fogging campaign will soon be undertaken in affected areas to prevent the outbreak of epidemic diseases in the aftermath of torrential rains.

DHA Administrator Brig Maqsood Hussain has reiterated that the authority would take all measures to bring normalcy in all areas of Defence in minimum possible time. He asked the residents to exhibit understanding and extend their co-operation in augmenting DHA’s efforts to combat the rain emergency effectively.—APP