Breaking: Finish Maradu Flats demolition in 120 days, pay interim compensation of Rs 25 lakhs each to flat owners, SC tells Kerala

The Supreme Court today directed the State of Kerala to disburse an interim compensation of Rs 25 lakhs each to the flat owners in the residential buildings in Maradu and directed that it be demolished in pursuance to the Court’s order..While directing the same, the Court said that this amount of interim compensation can be recovered from the builders and the remainder of the compensation to be awarded to the flat owners to be evaluated by a committee..The State of Kerala submitted a timeframe for the completion of the demolition process and Senior Counsel Harish Salve told the Court that tearing down the buildings will take 90 days and the removal of debris will be completed in 30 days. The entire process will take 120 days to finish. The Court, has directed for the process to be completed as per this plan..The Court has also sought a list of proposed names of retired Judges who may be part of the committee to oversee the process as well as the evaluation process..Justice Arun Mishra who was on the Bench with Justice Ravindra Bhat, during the hearing said that the primary concern of the Court was that no illegal constructions should take place in the coastal zone illegally. However, he emphasised that the Court is also concerned about the people..“We’re not against people. They have to be compensated appropriately by the authorities. They should have shelter.“.The Court’s response came when Salve suggested that demolition may worsen the ecological condition of the coastal area. However, rejecting the suggestion the Court went on to pass its direction..The Court will hear the matter next on October 25..The Supreme Court in its order of May 8 had directed for all the buildings to be removed from the Maradu area that was made in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone regulations. At the time, the demolition was directed to be completed within aÂ period of one month from the date of the judgment..With no steps being taken in this direction, earlier this month, the Supreme Court set the deadline on September 20 for the purpose of complying with the order of demolition of the Maradu flats. Last Monday, the Court had rebuked the Kerala Chief Secretary for failing to clarify concrete steps taken in this directions and generally for the mushrooming of illegal constructions in Kerala.[Read Order]