THE builders’ mafia, with active connivance of the Karachi Building and Control Authority, has played havoc with environ of the Bath Island locality. Although , according to the KBCA’s approved master plan, construction is allowed in this area up to ground plus two, over the past few years many ground plus eight stories of highrise apartments and flats have been raised illegally.

Now uncollected garbage is littered at every nook and cranny of the street. The debris and building material of under-construction flat sites have damaged almost all main lanes.

The builders instead of connecting flat sites with the main sewerage line have adopted a cost-free way of discharging sewerage into the rain drains constructed three years back to carry rainwater to the sea.

Now these rainwater drains are chocked with sewerage. After the recent downpour the rainwater is accumulated in pools of damaged streets that has exposed the residents to grave threat of dengue fever and malaria.

The serious menace at present is from the huge water tanks, which some builders have built on construction sites to facilitate the building activity.

These tanks are constantly filled with fresh water. The water is used for construction activity and in the evening is seen utilised by the labour for bathing and cleaning, leaving the whole vicinity inundated.

These fresh water tanks are the best breeding grounds for mosquito carrying dengue virus.

However, why have the city government and the health department failed to take notice of such a grave situation developed in the very heart of the metropolis is strange to say the least?

I request the city government authorities and the provincial ministry of health to take notice of the serious threat posed by unhygienic environment the builders have created in the area. First the fresh water tanks need to be removed and action taken against builders who have damaged rain drains of the area.

These rain drains also need to be cleansed and restored at the earliest and sewerage of newly-built highrise apartments connected with the main sewerage line.

M.H.KURESHI Karachi