Evacuation of Kochi flat owners to begin soon: Kerala govt

Kerala government on Saturday said evacuation of residents of four illegal apartment complexes here, ordered to be demolished by Supreme Court, would commence soon. government would take steps to demolish apartment complexes built on coastal zone of Kochi's Maru as per action plan submitted by government in Supreme court, Chief Secretary Tom Jose told reporters here. He said state government would pay Rs 25 lakh interim compensation to each flat owner within four weeks as ordered by Supreme Court. Jose also said banks have been directed to freeze assets of builders and promoters who were involved in construction of illegal buildings in coastal zone areas.

Chief Secretary's statement comes a day after Supreme Court directed demolition of apartment complexes within 138 days, a timeline given by Kerala government, and asked state to pay Rs 25 lakh interim compensation to each flat owner within four weeks. Court h said government may consider recovering  interim compensation amount, which will be paid to flat owners, from builders and promoters. top bureaucrat in affidavit h said, "re are 343 flats in four multi-storeyed apartment buildings covering an area of 68,028.71 square meters. municipality has an area of 12.35 sq km and is densely populated with a population of 3,619 per sq kms. Two national highways namely NH-47 and NH-47(A) pass through this area." 

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tice to owners of nearby buildings sent

According to action plan prepared by government, finalization of firm for undertaking demolition and execution of agreement would be completed by October 9. During same period, evacuation tice to owners and occupants of flats would be issued. Besides, contingency planning for Kerala Water Authority(KWA), Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited( BSNL), contingency planning and making arrangements by Fire & Rescue Services, bandobast by police and  alternative rehabilitation for needy occupants would also be carried out before October 9.

or steps including tice to owners of nearby buildings, within a rius of 1 km, would also be carried out during this period. ministration said at least four days are required for evacuation of flat dwellers and 90 days for demolition of all  buildings. Thirty days are needed for removal of debris and clearing of  site to rmal conditions. entire set of activities will be completed in 138 days, it said. government is planning to hand over buildings to  successful bidder for demolition on October 11. On May 8, Apex Court h directed that se buildings are removed within a month as y were constructed in a tified CRZ, which was part of tidally-influenced  water body in Kerala.

court h passed order after taking te of a report of a three-member committee, which said when buildings were built, area was alrey tified as a CRZ and construction was prohibited.

Earlier, court h rejected a plea filed by residents of area against demolition order and take a strong exception to an order passed by a vacation bench during summer break of apex court, which h stayed demolition of se buildings for six weeks.

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