Maradu Flats Demolition: Man Residing Near Flats Moves SC Apprehending 'Collateral Damage' To Neighborhood

A man who has residence in the neighbourhood of the flats in Maradu has moved the Apex Court expressing his concern about the 'collateral damage' that might be caused if the demolition is carried out without proper planning and assessment.

In his writ petition, he submitted that he and his family have been residing in a plot of land and house located adjacent to these for the last 66 years. He urges that their life and property is in danger as the authorities are planning to carry out an implosion/explosion in the adjacent apartment complex without any proper planning &assessment of impact of the said demolition.

It is further contended that the demolition 'is likely to cause havoc in the vicinity, as the massive building when demolished with an implosion, shall submerge the residence which is only 600 sq.ft of the Petitioner herein and other such small houses located in and around the vicinity, fully with the debris and rubble that is emitted from the demolition.'

He seeks a direction from the Apex Court to ensure that no damage is caused to the neighbourhood and to the very fragile ecosystem. He also seeks for a direction to conduct a proper Environment Impact Assessment ( EIA) before actual demolition by implosion is carried out in these structures.

He further submits that various studies carried out by organizations have come to a conclusion that, about 400 to 500 kilograms of solid waste is likely to be generated per every square meter of demolition and the same would run to many square meters of construction leading to tones of solid waste.

Further, he also seeks a direction to the builders to pay for restoration and restitution of environment damages and degradation caused by the project in the locality and also pay towards the compensation in environment relief fund. 

Demolish Flats Before September 20, SC had ordered

Expressing dissatisfaction with the non-compliance of the demolition order passed against flats in Maradu, Kochi for CRZ violation, the Supreme Court had called upon the Kerala Government to carry out the directions by September 20.

If compliance report is not filed by that date, the Chief Secretary to the Government will have to personally appear before the Court on September 23,  the bench of Justice Arun Mishra and M R Shah had warned.

The demolition order was passed on May 8 based on the report of a three-member committee appointed by the Court which stated that when the constructions were made, the area was designated as CRZ-III, where such constructions are prohibited. The Court also noted that Panchayat had granted the building permits without the concurrence of the Coastal Zone Management Authority, which was mandatory.