CONCERNS have been raised by several responsible citizens of Karachi on the reported privatization of Clifton beach areas by the civic agencies during March 2005. According to news reports, the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) is all set to obtain the allotment and physical control of Clifton beach. What is naturally obvious is the privatization of beach land for mundane physical structures of all sorts in the name of developing the beach area and the surroundings.

If the intentions of DHA are materialized, the coast line will become a hodgepodge of glossy looking buildings serving a minute fragment in the society: resorts, clubs, hotels and even office towers.

The common people of the city will lose another commonly shared asset which is simply beyond replacement of any kind. The decision to turn this vital ecological and recreational asset into private property for nascent commercial exploitation needs to be carefully reviewed.

As a megapolis, Karachi is acutely short of recreational facilities. Parks and recreational spaces are a minute fraction of the total allocated land-use prescribed for the city. They are under constant threat of encroachment, land-use conversion or illegal occupation by the land grabbers.

A study of Karachi Metropolitan Region reveals that less than four per cent of total land was earmarked for utilization as parks and playgrounds. Normal urban planning practices shows that this figure should not be less than 10 per cent of the cumulative urban land use in large cities.

Studies have shown that dozens of parks were officially converted to other amenity uses such as religious/worship places, hospitals and even housing development. In respect to overall developmental balance, all the land uses including the recreational deserve an importance and protection.

For a city like Karachi, the economic performance can be directly correlated with provision of recreational facilities and spaces in many ways. According to the current situation, more than 65 per cent of the population is in the age bracket of economic productivity. This population has many needs which are essential to be fulfilled. Access to affordable options of recreation is a basic aspect.

Whenever and where ever the recreational needs are fulfilled, trends have shown a healthy economic output from the population. In a situation where recreational facilities have declined, social evils such as crime and violence erupt out that severely affect the economic productivity of the people. In Karachi, the majority of population – especially the labour force – is already affected by several social and economic pressures.

Rising unemployment and job insecurity; poor housing/living conditions; breakdown of essential infrastructure; exponentially rising costs of most basic goods and services; depression and other psychological disorders due to social and economic frustrations are generally prevalent in a sizable cross section of the population.

An effective manner to mitigate this social-economic menace is the provision of appropriate recreational facilities. Beyond doubts, urban beaches are used as a popular attraction which can be frequented at least of costs. Loss of local recreational spaces have many adverse impacts on the overall performance of the concerned population.

Reduction in the productive capacity of individuals, rise in stress, inability of household womenfolk to adopt a healthy life style, adverse impacts on the development of young children and an overall cost of environmental quality in every day life are few resultants of this intensifying urban malady.

In this bleak scenario, coastal and beach recreation becomes an all the more vital urban activity that need to be strengthened, conserved and promoted in the urban norms. As a prime recreational spot, the urban beaches have been performing as sites of intense public activity ever-since the British times. However, the urban beaches experienced tremendous pressure from unscrupulous and greedy interest groups that intended to convert the recreational land into parcels of commercially exploitable real estate.

Unfortunately the civic authorities such as DHA have been reported to connive with such elements for petty gains. Present boom in the real estate markets may have been a compelling reason to explore this dubious opportunity. Issues related to utilization of urban beaches thus need to be understood in the true perspective of their existence and emerging scenarios.

In the traditional practices of city planning, beaches were considered as prime public assets with full rights of entry and usage to all citizens. Nature of activities planned in such areas had an un-stinted public orientation. Provision of fun spaces for toddlers and children, walking and jogging tracks for all age groups, resting benches and other kind of public infrastructure was laid down to create a recuperating environment for the otherwise stressed up citizens.

As a universal practice, the access and rights of utilization ensured complete access to all classes in the city to benefit from the recreational facilities. Karachi also benefited from the planning wisdom during the post-independence period. Clifton beach was developed and extended as a prime location to attract urban dwellers of all ranks and profiles.

Beaches and coastal zones are such locations where the attraction for privatized development is optimum. The reason is simple. Private sector intends to maximize its profits by exploiting the natural potential of beach for their enterprises. Casinos, hotels, clubs, marinas beach resorts and shopping malls are such places that generate lucrative revenues for investors. In this consequence, the city planning controls delineate very stringent guidelines to protect the urban beaches from any negative outfall of commercialization. A basic measure applied in such situation is the land-use consolidation of beach zones.

The data related to the beach characteristic, trends in the changes of sea front and the historical variation of sea level is documented and analysed. The stretch of the beach with its dimensional characteristics are hence forth established.

A strip of 500 metres from the wet edge of the sea is normally kept free from any kind of building development for provision of recreational facilities, road and streets, ecological repositories and public facilities areas. Scores of international conventions, coastal development guidelines and planning principles underpin this approach.

The Karachi Coastal and Recreational Development Plan (KCRDP) (1986-2000) has also clearly assigned the public status to the urban beaches. It has laid down a precise framework to protect and safeguard the urban beaches as vital recreational zone for people of all age and gender groups.

It shall be criminal to snatch this important zone for private profiteering and exploitation. Like the other plans prepared for the city, the KCRDP was never notified or implemented, making the city beaches vulnerable to commercial pressures.

Development of private facilities does not happen along the urban beaches such as Clifton. The suburban locations are normally chosen for inviting the private sector to develop their desired projects in accordance with city master plans. Holiday villages, resorts and hotels are allowed according to prevalent contractual modes. At times such initiatives become useful in introducing new developments in otherwise difficult terrains, under developed coastal areas and even isolated islands.

Clandestine conversion of Clifton beach into a private domain is not an appropriate attempt. It points to serious irregularities. The same authority is responsible for reckless reclamation of land causing grave environmental repercussions along the south eastern coastline of the city. This decision must be reverted in the larger interest of the city. Such commercially motivated venture become possible due to the absence of an urban master plan.

Preparation and notification of Karachi Master Plan; promulgation of specific byelaws and regulations pertinent to sensitive locations such as coastal and urban beach zones; enforcement of effective bench marking requirements for physical development on sea front areas and initiation of public consultation are some necessary steps in this respect.