THE recent havoc caused by heavy monsoon downpours, spreading widespread death and destruction, should awaken us.

The tragic scenes caught on camera of a car carrying a retired officer and his 25-year old daughter swept away in Islamabad’s (DHA) housing society should make us realize dangers created by encroachments, tree chopping and poor urban planning. Weather experts have forecast that these torrential rains are likely to occur more frequently in Pakistan’s northern regions and represent the new normal.

Heavy monsoon rains are not unprecedented and have occurred in the past also. Landslides and floods also occurred. Rain storm drains have existed for centuries and so have natural flow of the river paths. Drastic changes in landscape and encroachments, of what are considered to be national reserve zones, where no concrete constructions should have existed, have only added to woes of citizens who live in these areas. When millions of trees are wiped out, soil erosion is a natural consequence. Even a declared natural reserve like Margalla Hills, located in our federal capital has fallen prey to greed of a few within the powerful elite. Declared natural reserve zones, or amenity plots, should have been no-go for any concrete construction, yet they have fallen prey to greed of a few. All these irregularities were regularized by corrupt bureaucracy in nexus with an equally fallible judicial system. Individuals involved in scandalous Kidney Hill Park in Karachi have managed to get away. Many amongst them,........

© Pakistan Observer