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KARACHI, Sept 19: Defence residents affected by the recent rains in the city are demanding compensation from the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) for damages incurred during the flooding of their homes.
The residents, whose houses were flooded by rainwater mixed with sewage, are filing a petition in court in response to what they claim was the CBC’s negligence regarding the building of a proper drainage system in the area.
In signed letters listing their damages to the CBC, the residents have demanded compensation ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs2 million from the board.
“During the rains in Karachi, which started on August 9, rainwater was not drained out naturally due to defective planning of infrastructure by your department. As a result water entered my house and destroyed and damaged my property and belongings including cars, furniture, furnishings, etc. My underground water tank was (also) contaminated …” is the basic complaint in all the letters being sent to the department concerned.
The CBC, which recently saw the transfer of its Chief Executive Officer Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmed Mir, is now awaiting its new CEO Zeenat Ahmed, who is currently on leave performing Umrah. In her absence, Sardar Temur, additional CEO, CBC, is handling the grievances of the residents.
When asked what was being done regarding the residents’ demand for compensation, Mr Temur told Dawn: “We have sent the matter to our legal department and will act according to their advice.”
Saying that he was aware of the residents’ intention to sue the CBC, Mr Temur was of the view that “it’s their legal right.”
Whose problem is it?
Tahir Chaudhary, a resident who lives on Q Street, off Khayaban-i-Seher in Phase VII, said that, “Even after so many days, there is stagnant water on the empty plots. There are gutters overflowing everywhere. The Defence Housing Authority (DHA) says it’s not their problem but the CBC’s. DHA Administrator Brig Kamran Aziz Qazi, who is also the President of the CBC, says that he’s not (in the post) for long, so why are complaints being addressed to him. But he is there right now and should take some responsibility. We don’t see any representation. Who do we go to?”
When asked what was being done to address people’s complaints, Brig Qazi said, “There is no proposal as yet about compensation to residents but we will improve our drainage system.”
Advocate Rubina Durrani, who lives off Khayaban-i-Rahat, said she was aware that the DHA was not taking responsibility for the disaster.
“We cannot even own property here without being members of the DHA. And for what?” About her losses, she said “We have spent so much money rebuilding our lawn and basement. Since the road is now higher than the level of our lawn, the water from the road comes into the lawn and from there it flows into the basement. The stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. All kinds of creatures, including big lizards, have climbed into our house from water-filled plots, but no efforts are being made to drain out the water.”
Aziz Suharwardy, General-Secretary of the Defence Association Coordination Committee (DACC), a federation of six residents’ associations of Phase II (ext), Phase IV, Phase V, Phase V (ext), Sea View Township and Phase VII leading the calls for compensation, said that “We pay taxes to the CBC, which is directly at fault here. We are not blaming the DHA, but there is a lack of representation in the CBC.”
‘Lack of transparency’
Being aware of the CEO’s transfer from the CBC, Suharwardy said that the individual just became a casualty of the episode.
“It’s the corrupt underlings that do the actual damage. There is no transparent budget and no supervision of where the funds are going. Recently, when they were rebuilding Khayaban-i-Shahbaz, we suggested that they put in place a proper storm drainage system there. But the suggestion fell on deaf ears. They are constantly raising road levels. The one-foot four-inch wide dividers on Khayaban-i-Shahbaz are instrumental in stopping the flow of water and creating mini dams. The gutters are choked and without a proper storm drainage system, we have water everywhere. The entire system needs revamping,” he said.
“We have highlighted the problems. The CBC calls us to meetings, gives presentations of development, etc., but does nothing about these basic problems. We have no other option but to turn to court,” he added.
Mr Suharwardy said that the residents are filing the petition together with the CPLC.
“If they cannot compensate us monetarily, they should at least exempt us from paying property taxes for three or four years,” said Advocate Durrani.
While pointing out that they cannot pay compensation for an unprecedented natural calamity, the DHA’s Public Relations Officer, Lt-Col (retd) Rafat Naqvi, said: “We are taking temporary emergency measures while making technical evaluations within the area. Long-term plans involve storm-water (drainage) systems that will reach right up to the sea with interconnected storm drains.”
But the residents are of the view that this was promised after last year’s rains as well.
“We want guarantees. We want it in writing from them that they will improve the infrastructure,” said Tahir Chaudhary.
