KARACHI, May 9: A number of multi-storey buildings have already been built on residential plots while several other houses are in the process of being converted into high rise buildings in the city's oldest posh locality of Garden East.

With the construction of highrise buildings on the sites of bungalows, not only the residents of nearby bungalows have been deprived of fresh air and sunlight but the locality's 100-year-old utility services' infrastructure has been over-burdened, resulting in overflowing gutters and acute water shortage.

An elderly person living in Garden East told Dawn that since water shortage had now become a routine, residents of the locality had no choice but to purchase water from tankers at exorbitant rates.

Besides, filthy water overflowing from choked sewers usually remains stagnant on streets and in front of houses, creating an unhygienic condition in the locality.

Similarly, the locality's power supply is being affected badly with each passing day owing to a phenomenal increase in power connections following construction of highrise buildings.

He pointed out: "Severity of the problem may be gauged from the fact that the area's KESC substation stops working and PMT goes out of order quite frequently due to the extra load and the consumers suffer prolonged power breakdown till the repair work is carried out."

Another resident of the locality said that initially, more than 100 years back, plots measuring 1,000 to 2,000 square yards each had been carved out in the area for residential purpose. As such, he added, the infrastructure of utility services had been laid keeping in view the requirement of one or two families per plot.

However, with the contemporary trend of converting bungalows into highrise buildings to accommodate a large number of families (an average 25-30 families) on each such plot, the utility services have started

"How can a sewerage or water pipeline line originally meant for a couple of families cater to the needs of as many as 25/30 families?" he questioned. Many other residents of Garden East said it was beyond their comprehension that why the concerned authorities were allowing construction of highrise buildings on the plots without a valid lease.

Residents of Garden East have demanded of the city government and the KBCA to ensure, while granting approval to new building plans, that the condition of height restriction was observed by builders in letter and spirit.

Besides, they stressed, no one should be allowed to raise a building beyond ground-plus-one in this particular locality to ensure privacy of those residing in the bungalows around the multi-storey unit.

This is essential to save the locality's already outlived utility services. Suspecting foul play in the whole affair, they have urged the city nazim to intervene as some novice builders having no technical expertise or any permanent address, seemed involved in the extortion racket targeted at those requiring a flat in such projects.