Maradu flats demolition to be carried out by 2 companies: Snehil Singh

The Maradu apartment complexes in Ernakulam, Kerala is all set to be demolished by the government. The Kochi Sub-Collector Snehil Kumar Singh on Saturday said that the Maradu flat demolition will be carried out by two companies shortlisted by the government. He also mentioned that the technical team was constituted to discuss the issue. Earlier, the government-appointed demolition expert, Sharath B Sarwate, along with the 11-member technical committee team visited the Holy Faith residential building in Maradu area on Friday.

In a special council meeting, Singh said, "A technical committee of 10 persons, including six engineers was constituted to discuss the further course of action. On October 5, the technical committee shortlisted two out of the six companies which were shortlisted based on their technical expertise." 

Sharing details, Singh added, "Three flats will be given to Edifice Engineering, Mumbai, and one to Vijay Steel, Chennai, for carrying out the demolition process. The government has requested us to issue the address of debris. Therefore, a separate tender will be launched for debris management after the demolition."

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Deadline ends

Earlier, 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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Supreme Court's order

Earlier on May 8, the Supreme Court ordered the State government to demolish the buildings constructed in the Maradu area in Ernakulam that violated the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules. On September 23, the court reprimanded the state government for not following the court's orders, for allegedly permitting multi-story 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 the disastrous floods in September.

READ | Evacuation Of Kochi Flat Owners To Begin Soon: Kerala Govt

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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