As the deadline to vacate the Maradu flats ended on Thursday, occupants of 243 out of the 326 flats have vacated, government sources told Manorama Online.
The Maradu flats are facing demolition for violating Coastal Regulation Zone norms. Occupants of 83 flats are yet to vacate.
Earlier, Ernakulam District Collector S Suhas told reporters that 42 flats have been readied for rehabilitating Maradu flat occupants and all assistance will be provided for them to vacate. About 20 volunteers will also assist those who were vacating.
“Some occupants have sought more time to vacate and their request will be considered, but those who create hazards would be firmly dealt with,” Suhas said.
Even though the deadline to vacate the four Maradu apartment complexes ended at 5pm on Thursday, the impasse continued as flat owners sought an extension of the deadline.
Around 60 policemen from the armed reserve camp have been deployed at Maradu.
Earlier, Sub Collector Snehil K Singh, Ernakulam Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) K Lalji and Maradu Municipal Vice-Chairman Boban held discussions with the flat owners.
ACP Lalji directed flat owners to submit individual letters to the municipality and police stating how much time and what all equipment and security measures they needed to vacate. He assured all assistance from authorities.
Only those flat owners who submit such letters will get an extension. Several of the residents are moving out leaving behind the furniture and other belongings.
Some occupants have asked for more time ranging from 72 hours to 10 days to completely vacate the flats. Some residents have hired go-downs in the city paying Rs 300 to 500 a day to keep their belongings until they find a new place to stay.
ACP Lalji assured that police wouldn't evict the residents forcefully as the latter seems to be cooperative.
"We understand that the residents of all 4 flats face hardships in vacating their apartments. We will definitely make arrangements to help them complete the evacuation process. We try our best to grant them the time period they ask for but we cannot permit if someone asks for more than two or three weeks,"ACP Laljy told Onmanorama.
Flat owners have stressed that they were ready to leave as soon as they get the rehabilitation offered by the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the government has assured that power and water supply to the flats will not be cut. It also said Rs 1 crore has been allotted to the Maradu municipality for eviction, security and rehabilitation of Maradu flat owners.
The harried residents of the four complexes – H20 Holy Faith, Alpha Serene, Golden Kayaloram and Jain Coral Cove – had earlier alleged that no proper arrangements were made to rehabilitate them.
“When residents approached apartment owners as per the list prepared by the district administration, they were told that the flats were not available on rent," Maradu Bhavan Samrakshana Samiti (House Protection Council) president Shamsuddeen Karunagapally said.
The flat owners alleged that the district administration prepared the list without conducting proper enquiries. "When residents, including women, went to check the flats, they were meted out with rude treatment," they said.
Municipal chairperson Nadira said the flat owners have not yet approached the municipality for alternate housing options. They also have not filed a formal complaint at the municipality, she added.
Around 10 flats, owned by non-resident Indians are still locked with all the furniture and other goods inside.
Grievances of residents
Several of the corridors are now crammed with furniture and household items as some of the elevators stopped functioning.
One of the owners, Binoj Chennatt, complained that the residents are running short of time to take down and transport their belongings to another place.
“Only one of the two elevators are functioning. Not more than a refrigerator and a table can be taken down in a single trip. We have been going up and down continuously for almost three days now. We are deprived of sleep and peace of mind," he said. Binoj's brother Beyoj said it has been over a week children went to schools.
Twenty-two residents of Jains Coral Cove are stuck in the lobbies as elevators are down. “We are all staying back in our apartments. We don't think we can vacate flats by this evening. We need time. We have no other option,” George Kodiyan, a flat owner at Jains Coral Cove said.
A few NRIs, who own apartments in the four complexes, have reached Kochi this morning and scouting for a safe place to put their furniture and other items. “I don't know where am I going to shift my belongings in the flat. I don't have a place to stay. Let the officials throw everything out of the window," one of them said.
