KARACHI, June 12: The Karachi Building Control Authority, under the first phase of a major demolition plan, will raze 60 buildings, identified as dangerous in the city and the task will be completed within three months period.
This was stated by the Chief Controller of Buildings, Brig A S Nasir, at a press conference, held at the KBCA office on Saturday.
Giving details of the plan, Brig Nasir said that about 1,500 buildings were identified as dangerous, last year. However, factually there were thousands of buildings, which could be regarded as dangerous, if katchi abadis, which were inhabited by the city's 50-60 per cent population, were taken into consideration, he added.
He said that structures in katchi abadis were dangerous because most of these were unstable from foundation to roof.
Brig Nasir said that to ensure smooth demolition process, the dangerous buildings had been divided into three categories, to be demolished in three phases. In the first phase, 60 buildings would be demolished in three months, while 55 in the second phase of six months, and the rest would be demolished within a period of three years, he elaborated.
"It is a stupendous task, but we have to take an initiative to start it in view of hundreds of human lives being at stake," he told the newsmen.
He also explained the problems, technicalities and legalities that came in the way of carrying out demolition process.
The biggest problem was how to get occupation of dangerous buildings, and then pull them down.
He said it had been suggested that families residing in such buildings be provided alternative plots in new schemes, so that they could be saved from hardships when they had to vacate their houses in a building declared dangerous, adding that the proposal was being sent to city nazim for consideration.
Brig Nasir said that there were certain owners, who also wanted to get their buildings vacated from occupying families on the pretext that their buildings were dangerous. They only wanted to get their buildings vacated to sell these at higher prices after reconstructing these, he added.
Similarly, a few buildings could not be demolished, as these had been declared heritage, while in some cases, there were difference between the members of the families on proprietary rights and division of assets, he said.
The CCOB said that it had also been proposed to identify some 200-300 plots, to be given as an alternative accommodation to the people vacating dangerous buildings.
He cautioned that any mishap could happen, and in such case, who would be held responsible, adding that these issues needed to be resolved on priority basis.
Referring to the buildings, where technicalities and legalities were involved, he said things could be sorted out through negotiations between owners and occupants. "Let us show some results," he emphasised.
Brig Nasir, taking notice of huge hoardings on some old and dilapidated buildings, observed that these buildings posed serious threat to the life and property of people living in and around these structures, adding that the KBCA would remove the hoardings from such buildings.
To a question, the KBCA chief informed that except for the four buildings, occupied by educational institutions, all others to be demolished in the first phase were unoccupied.
To another question, he said the KBCA did not have resources and machinery required to pull down the buildings declared dangerous in Liaquatabad, Shah Faisal Town and Malir.
He told a questioner that steps would be taken to seek cooperation of town nazims in this task.
Replying to another question, regarding the ongoing cleaning of drains, Brig Nasir said that it was a big challenge. He said that tons of garbage had been cleaned from drains so far.
Also present at the press conference were, Rauf Akhtar Farooqi, Mumtaz Hyder, Controller, Jamshed Town and secretary, Dangerous Building Committee.-APP