Kochi: The Ernakulam district collector has ordered the disbursal of six months’ advance rent to eligible residents of the Chander Kunj Army apartments in Vytilla’s Silver Sand Island. The move comes after the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO), which constructed the flats, deposited ₹2.97 crore as the total advance rent for six months in an escrow account opened by the collector. 

According to the order issued by District Collector Priyanka G on September 14, the amount will be distributed to 152 residents of Towers B and C, which are slated for demolition and reconstruction due to structural issues. Of the total, ₹1.33 crore has been earmarked for 74 residents in Tower B and ₹1.63 crore for 78 residents in Tower C. Each resident of Tower B will receive ₹1.8 lakh at the rate of ₹30,000 per month for six months, while Tower C residents will receive ₹2.1 lakh each at the rate of ₹35,000 per month for six months. 

The decision follows an interim order of the Kerala High Court directing the AWHO to deposit six months’ advance rent in escrow, with the disbursal to be managed by the district collector’s office. The payments will cover only those residents who have been living in their apartments at some point in time. 

While several residents have already vacated or are in the process of moving out, some remain unwilling to leave until the court delivers its final verdict. “The case is still under the consideration of the court, and we are waiting for the order. I cannot move out before that,” said Colonel Ciby George (Retd.), a resident of the apartments. 

Once the apartments are vacated, they will be taken over by the Kanayannur tahsildar for demolition, as per the earlier decision of the district-level committee chaired by the collector.