A day after the Supreme Court gave an ultimatum for the demolition of four apartment buildings in Kochi, the Kerala government has informed Maradu municipality, the local body within whose limits the flats are located, that it will offer necessary help to facilitate the demolition of buildings.
In the directive issued to Maradu municipal secretary, the state government has asked the local body to go ahead with demolition and to comply with the dates given by the Supreme Court.
In May 2019, Supreme Court ruled that the four apartment buildings – Holy Faith, Kayaloram, Alfa Ventures and Jain Housing – were built violating Coastal Zone Regulation (CRZ) norms. On Friday again, the Supreme Court issued an ultimatum in the case, asking the Maradu municipality to complete the demolition by September 20. The court also asked the chief secretary of the state to submit a report on the demolition directly to the apex court on September 23.
“We received a directive from the government asking us to initiate the demolition and to comply with the timing issued by the Supreme Court. The government has also said that they will provide the necessary financial aid for the demolition procedures,” Muhammad Arif Khan, secretary of the municipality told TNM.
Earlier, the local body had expressed apprehensions about the large amount of money that will be required to demolish the four apartment buildings. Though it has been solved now with government offering necessary help, the local body is still in a dilemma over the fate of about 400 residents living in the flats.
“This is a massive issue that will affect many families. We will anyway conduct a meeting with the local body officials and decide how it should be initiated,” the secretary said.
After the court issued an ultimatum in the case on Friday, residents of the apartments had said that they will file a curative petition against the order. However, the Supreme Court had earlier reprimanded the petitioners and their counsel for approaching a vacation bench with a review petition.
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