Kannur: Demolition has begun on a 10-storey building at Caltex after the Corporation ordered its removal for violating building regulations.

The structure is being dismantled by lifting heavy machinery to the upper floors using hydraulic cranes. The building, located near NS Talkies, was constructed about 10 years ago and remained partially completed. The action follows a finding that the construction of the structure deviated from the approved plan submitted to the Corporation. While permission had been granted for a seven-storey structure, the building was illegally extended to 10 storeys.

The demolition was ordered after authorities found that erecting such a massive structure on a small plot was unauthorised. This is likely to be the first instance in the city where a building is being directly demolished, following enforcement action. Earlier, during the tenure of former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, action against illegal constructions was limited to demolishing unlawfully protruding portions of certain buildings.

The building, which stands near the Caltex along the route into the city from the Thalassery side, had its external walls and other structural works completed across all 10 floors. Despite several attempts to avert this rare move, demolition became inevitable after these efforts failed.