Maradu, Kochi: A review petition is likely to be filed against the Supreme Court's order to demolish five flat complexes in Maradu in Ernakulam district for violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.
Golden Kayaloram flat residents association, one of the five flat complexes, has decided to seek a review of the apex court’s order.
"We were not even aware that a case about our flat complex was going on in the Supreme Court," association president C M Varghese said. Some people had been living in this flat for 10 years. The construction of the Golden Kayaloram flat had begun 20 years ago.
Association members said that the building was assigned a number by the municipality and the tax was duly paid.
"If the building is to be razed, then the municipality has to give compensation. There were no legal hurdles when the municipality was levying tax and allocating number for the building. Suddenly, such legal issues cannot be dumped on the residents," they contended.
The Supreme Court verdict
In a landmark verdict to rein in marauding real estate developers encroaching upon eco-sensitive coastal belt, the Supreme Court had on Wednesday ordered the demolition of around 350 flats in five highrises built in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms in Maradu municipality limits in Kerala's Ernakulam district.
The apex court also ordered the Maradu municipality officials to raze the flats within one month's time and submit a report before the court.
According to the court order, around 350 units of Alpha Ventures apartments' double-flat complex at Nettoor, Holy Faith's H2O towers at Kundannoor, Holiday Heritage's Kettezhethu Kadavu Jain Coral Cove and Golden Kayaloram will be razed to the ground. All these towers are situated within 10 km radius of Kochi city.
The officials concerned will have to submit the report to the SC after demolishing the flats located in the Coastal Regulation Zone-3 (CRZ), where construction is restricted by the government due to the eco-sensitive nature of the land.
The then Maradu panchayat (which was later made a municipality) had granted permission for the construction in 2006-07 without informing the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority. The action comes as construction activities are restricted within 200 metres from the coasts in CRZ-3 limits. According to sources, any form of construction in this belt needs the clearance of Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority.
The SC bench headed by Justice Arun Misra said Kerala cannot withstand natural calamities caused due to illegal constructions. The state had suffered the worst floods in a century in 2018.
Which are the apartments?
The apartments include Holy Faith H2O at Kundannoor; Alfa Ventures double flat complex at Nettoor; Golden Kayaloram, the 15-floor apartment near Chambakara canal road; Nettoor Kettezhethu Kadavu Jain Coral Cove, and Holiday heritage yet to begin construction.
Residents in shock
The SC order has come as a rude shock for the owners of the flats. Even film stars own some of these flats. Most of the flats cost more than Rs 1 crore.
Reacting to the SC verdict, Maradu municipality's vice-president said that once the civic body receives the court order, appropriate action would be taken after conducting inspections.
