Residents decry inaction of DHA and CBC, demand inquiry

Karachi

Residents of Defence Housing Authority and areas under the Cantonment Board Clifton on Thursday have demanded that an inquiry be conducted into the affairs of these organizations as they are “accountable to no one.”

They complained that very nominal dewatering operations took place in their areas by the concerned civic agencies despite the fact that it was a clear day and that work should have been undertaken on an emergency basis.

They told The News that almost no CBC or DHA employees could be seen on site and most operations were being carried out in areas where DHA and CBS staff reside. Also, de-watering operations were carried out in military areas or where military colonies are located within DHA, they alleged.

Within a period of a fortnight, residents, of the DHA and Clifton, Cantonment Board have faced flood-like situation, resulting in loss of property, unhygienic surroundings, and immobility due to inundated roads.

Commercial concerns have equally suffered the brunt of this negligence resulting in loss of sales as well as property, claims the Defence Society Residents Association (DSRA).

On behalf of the residents of DHA Karachi, the DSRA said that it would like the President, Secretary Defence, Director General Military Lands and Cantonment, and the Governing Body of the Defence Housing Authority to take into account that the recent flooding of residential and commercial areas in the DHA was not due to some natural phenomenon, as Lahore and Islamabad receive a lot more rains than Karachi, and one does not see pictures of suffering from DHA Lahore of Islamabad, after only a couple of rainy days.

“The disaster was purely due to the negligence of the managers of this area,” the DSRA claimed.

Regarding some of the causes behind the flooding, it said that the main reason was the lack of utilization of sophisticated expertise in planning and designing of sewerage and rainwater

drainage system in the DHA Karachi.

Moreover, usage of cheap materials and faulty equipment like second hand pumps and borrowed generators was another reason behind this situation.

“The absence of financial transparency in the affairs of the DHA and the Cantonment Board is another major reason in addition taxation with representation,” it stated.

The residents of DHA Karachi and areas under the Cantonment Board Clifton have also demanded an inquiry into the affairs and the resulting failures of all the DHA and CBC.

The panel of inquiry must include outside professionals and the representatives of the residents, and the enquiry should be made public. They also demanded that immediate release of annual financial statements audited by reputable auditors, of all the Authorities concerned, and they should be made part of the public record, and the readily available to the residents.

Residents say that this should be made part of the requirements every year, as practiced by all the public concerns in the country.

Many people contacted by The News also demanded that a survey must be conducted to determine the losses suffered by the affected residents and arrangement be made to compensate them for those losses.

After the completion of the enquiry, reputed consultants should be hired to rectify the infrastructure problems inherent in the DHA, and proper equipment be purchased to deliver, as expected by highest tax-payers of the country, namely the residents of DHA Karachi, they said.

At the same time, a DHA media release on Thursday contradicted the news item published in a section of press alleging that tankers dedicated to transporting drinking water were being used by DHA in its ongoing drainage operation.

The statement said that DHA Horticulture Department has a fleet of bowsers used for irrigation purposes. The same is being used for the drainage of standing rainwater from DHA localities. Sludge water bowsers of CBC are also extensively being employed for the operation.