In maps: 65 major Coastal Regulation Zone violations in Kerala

Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations came into prominence in Kerala after the Supreme Court ordered to demolish four apartment complexes in Maradu municipality, bordering Kochi Corporation, recently.

The court had directed the state government, in no uncertain terms, to pull down the buildings that violated CRZ rules.

At present, four water-front apartments are facing demolition threat. They are: 18-storey Holy Faith H2O, 16-storey Alpha Serene, 16-storey Golden Kayaloram and 16-storey Jains Coral Cove.

The cacophony around the demolition, however, has submerged the other 61 major CRZ violations by private companies and individuals. These violations were unearthed by the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA), the agency to implement CRZ norms.

The list was prepared by the agency to answer a question raised in the Lok Sabha. 

Onmanorama has accessed the list.

According to it, 60 private companies and five individuals have violated the CRZ rules in seven coastal districts.

With 24 violations, Ernakulam topped the list. It was followed by Thiruvananthapuram (14), Kannur (7), Kollam (6), Kozhikode (4), Alappuzha (3) and Kasaragod (2).

Apart from the four buildings in Maradu, the list contains the name of Holiday Heritage, which is yet to be constructed.

The KCZMA had found violations committed by non-resident Indian businessman MA Yousuffali and Sabura Yousuffali, Thomas Cleoplus, Bindhu Sunil, MA Babu Moopan, MM Martin and CJ Roy of Confident Group and Raviz group in Kollam.

It also detected violations by government agencies - a bund construction by Kerala Land Development Corporation in Kollam and Tourism department's boat club in Thiruvananthapuram.

This Google Map shows 38 CRZ violations:

Here is the district-wise list of violations by private companies and owners, prepared by the Kerala Costal Zone Management Authority:

Ernakulam district

1. Galaxy Regent, apartment building, Elamkulam

2. Heera Waters, apartment building, Elamkulam

3. Jewel Homes, apartment building, Poonithuram

4. Soni Buildcon (P) limited, commercial building, Elamkulam

5. M A Yousuffali and Sabura Yousuffalia, commercial building, Ernakulam

6. Adele Builders and Developers, Poonithura

7. Cyril Paul and Nisha C Paul, Elamkulam

8. Galaxy Cliffort, commercial building, Elamkulam

9. M C Basil, Abad Lotus Lake, commercial building, Elamkulam

10. Golden Kayaloram, commercial building, Maradu

11. 15 Liliput Seaface Resort, Pallipuram

12. Unauthorised building owned by Muhammed Ali Khoori, Kuzhippally

13. Construction of flat by Alfa Ventures in Maradu

14. Construction of flat by Jain Housing and Construction, Maradu

15. Construction of flat by Holy Faith Builders, Maradu

16. Construction of flat by Holiday Heritage in Maradu

17. Construction work at the Kent Bay Warch Water Front Luxury Apartments, Edakochi

18. Construction of Residential apartment by Choice Marina, Rameswaram Village, Kochi

19. Crowne Plaza, Maradu

20. Ambady Retreats, Ernakulam, Ernakulam

21.Ambady Retreats, Adukkala restaurant, Ernakulam

22. Pearls Gardens, Ernakulam

23. Blue Lagoon Buildings, Water front Enclave, Ernakulam

24. Resort building by Maggi Davis, Angamaly

Thiruvananthapuram district

25. Smudradara Hotel, Vizhinjam

26. Construction of beach resort by Natarajan (Pappukkutty Beach Resort, Kovalam

27. Construction of beach resort by Sajeevkumar PS and Hotel Soorya Beach Resort at Kovalam

28. Construction of beach resort by Rema Devi (Hotel Sea Face), Kovalam

29. Construction of hotel by Syed Muhammed Nisal (Hotel Naza Tourist Inn), Kovalam

30. Construction of beach resort by Purushathaman R (Hotel Pooja Mahal), Kovalam

31. Construction of beach resort by Chandrasekharan (Hotel Sea View Palace) Kovalam

32. Construction of beach resort by Suresh Kumar KG (Hotel Marine Palace), Kovalam

33. Construction of beach resort N Sudhakaran (Jeevan Ayurvedic Beach Resort), Kovalam

34. Construction of beach resort by Andreas Heitman, CEO of Thapovan Heritage Home, Vizhinjam

35. Heera Developers, Akkulam

36. Hotel Vivatnta by Taj, Kovalam

37. Hotel Lake Palace, Kadinamkulam

38. The tourism department boat club in Kappil

Kannur district

39. Zewar construction

40. Safe Home Builders

41. Stay Homes, Valiyaparamba

42. Malabar Builder

43. A new building near United Club and Cliff Road

44. A large hotel construction near to the Military Hospital

45. Searock Resorts

Kollam district

46. Sunthara Beach Resort, Kottukkal

47. Hotel Raviz, Thrikkadavoor

48. All Season Resort, Thrikkadavoor

49. Hotel Fragrant Nature

50. Reclamation of wetland by Syailaka, Kanjavel

51 Bund construction by Kerala Land Development Corporation in Malakayal

Kozhikode district

52. Beefathima Beevi Trust, Kadalundi

53. Kortih Golf Links Builders, Kozhikode

54. Pentagon Builders, Kozhikode

55. Appollo Builders, Kozhikode

Alappuzha district

56. Kapico Resorts, Panavally

57. Vasu Coco Resort, Vayalar

58. Prestine Isle Resort, Kodamathuruthu

Kasaragod district

59. Green Gateway Leisure Limited, Kaikan

60. Hotel Vivanta by Taj, Bekal

Private buildings

61. Thomas Cleoplus, Kalluvila, Thiruvananthapuram

62. Bindhu Sunil Residential Buildings

63. M A Babu Moopan, commercial building

64. M M Martin, residential building

65. C J Roy, Confident Group – Flat

Confident Group denies KCZMA findings

Reacting to the KCZMA findings, Confident Group said it has not constructed any building, violating the Coastal Regulation Zone rules. 

The group's Managing Director TA Joseph said his company had, in fact, called off a project in Maradu despite getting permission from the gram panchayat in 2006-2007.

“We received plan approval for a high-end waterfront project, Confident Avior in Maradu, in 2006-2007. After the launch of the project, a lot of incidents happened at Maradu gram panchayat. The panchayat secretary was arrested for bribery and the government revoked all building permits approved during his tenure," the statement read.

He said his company received favourable court order to resume the project. "We have two existing old buildings close to the banks of the Netoor thodu, numbered prior to 1991. However, keeping the criteria stipulated in CRZ rule, we had called off the project just because of insufficient road width in few spots as per the Kerala Municipal Building Rules, as we did not want to take any risk when it concerned our clients. We are still holding it as a land bank," he said.

"Out of 350 units in six acres land, we sold around 65 units within 45 days from the date of launch. We had refunded the entire money with interest which we collected from people who invested in the project," he said.

(This story has been edited to include Confident Group's reaction)