Deadline to vacate Maradu flats ends, owners continue search for homes

The deadline to vacate Maradu apartment complexes came to an end on Thursday, October 3, multiple families residing in the flats of the Maradu apartment have shifted to other places but a few desperate owners continue their search for alternate accommodations.

113 families out of 343 apartments in the four complexes have already moved out from the apartment to other places and other families are expected to move out soon. Saddened by the court's order, the owners of the flats have claimed that they were not handed any demolition notice in advance. The families also claimed that they have not been given any compensation so far. The Apex court had ordered a compensation amount of Rs 25 lakh to be given to each flat owner within four weeks.

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Judicature orders the State Government  

The state government was ordered by the court to demolish the apartments constructed in the Maradu area in Ernakulam, Kerala as the constructed buildings violated the CRZ rules. On September 23, the court reprimanded the state government for not following the court's orders, for allegedly permitting multi-storey buildings to come up illegally in a coastal zone and said it will fix responsibility on the erring officials involved in such kind of construction.

The court also said that it was 'shocked' on how construction was allowed in a high-tide area in Kerala. Kerala was hit by disastrous floods in September.

On Monday, water and electricity lines of four buildings were cut by the government and a criminal case was registered by the police against three builders who constructed the apartments in Maradu. The court had said on Wednesday that it will register a criminal case against the accused builders for violating CRZ norms. Around 400 flats will be demolished under the court's order.

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The Maradu flats 

The Kerala state government on September 28, had informed the residents of four illegal apartment complexes about the Supreme Court's order to demolish the illegal buildings. SC had passed an order, following which the residents were informed about the buildings going under demolition very soon. The State Government was asked to pay Rs 25 lakh compensation to each flat owner within four weeks as per the order of the Supreme Court. The banks have been asked to freeze the assets of builders and promoters who were involved in the construction of illegal buildings in the coastal zone area. 

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(With Inputs from ANI)