Kochi: As a three-member committee appointed by the Supreme Court is set to fix the compensation for people being evicted from four flat complexes which will be demolished by the Maradu Municipality, it has been revealed there are no proper ownership records for nearly 40% apartments. This may prove to be a double whammy for the affected residents who are scouting for alternate accommodation as only registered owners of flats will be eligible for the interim compensation ordered by the Supreme Court.
The four illegal apartment complexes at Maradu in Kochi are to be demolished soon following a Supreme Court order for violating Coastal Regulation Zone norms. They comprise 360 apartments but the so-called owners of 140 apartments are yet to obtain the requisite ownership documents. Legal complications likely await those without valid records in availing compensation.
The deemed owners of flats that are still under the names of builders won’t be eligible to get the interim compensation ordered by the Supreme Court. Those who were handed over property on the basis of contracts are also not eligible.
Committee's call
The committee appointed by the Supreme Court to fix the compensation for the affected residents is about to start its work.
Fort Kochi Sub-Collector Snehil Kumar Singh, who is holding the charge of Municipal Secretary of Maradu, said it was for the committee headed by Justice K Balakrishnan Nair to look into the validity of the documents submitted by the flat owners for compensation.
The evicted flat owners are meanwhile submitting their claims at the office of the Maradu Municipality. They are submitting the applications along with the available ownership documents. On the basis of these applications, Maradu Municipality will submit the list of those who are eligible for the compensation to the government.
On September 27 the Supreme Court had ordered a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the flat owners within four weeks.
Panel for demolition
A technical expert committee set up to monitor the demolition of the flats will submit their report to the government on Monday. The committee comprises of experts from the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, Petroleum and Explosives Organisation (PES), Pollution Control Board, Public Works Department and the Local Self-government Department of the Kerala Government.
The bids submitted by companies to demolish the flats would be examined by this committee. It will also look into precautions needed to be taken before the demolition.
Sub-collector and the technical expert committee members had a discussion with the representatives of the six companies which submitted an expression of interest for the demolition of the flats. This was to ascertain the exact method to be used for demolition, the technology and crucially the experience of these companies in this task.
Selection notice will be issued to the companies before October 9. The flats will be handed over for demolition on October 11.
An appropriate time before January 9 will be chosen for the demolition of the flats, said the sub collector.
Ahead of demolition
The residents of nearby buildings will have to stay away from their homes for six to seven hours while the demolition begins. Only people living in a radius of 200-250 metres of the buildings to be demolished will have to move out. Those within the 50m radius of the flats may face dust pollution.
Restricted explosion will be carried out only after all necessary security arrangements are put in place, the sub-collector said. The explosion will be conducted at different times for the four marked properties.
The companies that will be engaged in the demolition has assured that there will be no risks for even the nearby buildings.
Insurance coverage will be ensured for all buildings in the surroundings. A clause for third-party insurance will be included in the agreement with companies engaged in the demolition, said the sub-collector.
It is for the government to decide whether to engage only or more companies for demolition. At the most only two companies may be engaged.
Flats empty
As of now the to-be demolished flats are free of its inhabitants. However, the shifting of household articles, including furniture and electronic items, is yet to be over and it may be on Sunday also.
Municipality officials said that they do not have clear information about some flat owners. Their household goods will be removed by the Revenue Department if necessary.
Probe against builders
A Crime Branch team which is conducting an inquiry into the irregularities in the construction of the flats in Maradu conducted a raid at the offices of the builders on Saturday. The inspections led by DySP Jolly Cherian which began by 11 am continued till late in the night.
Inspections were carried out in the offices of Holy Faith at Mamangalath at Elamakkara, Alfa Ventures at Kacheripadi and Jain builders at Panampilly Nagar.
Records related to the construction of the flat complexes that are to demolished were reportedly recovered from the office of the builders.
The sleuths had recovered documents related to the constructions from the office of Marad Municipality on Friday. The Crime Branch is likely to go ahead with procedures for questioning the builders.
The team had held a survey of the flats on Friday.
Demolition process
* Selection notice will be issued to companies selected for the demolition process before October 9.
* These companies will conduct an elaborate study on the demolition process and submit a report within 15 days. The study will be comprehensive and will deal with issues like how to go on with the demolition, the methods to be used, the likely pollution and environment impact.
*Companies will be given the contract for demolition only after studying the report.
*Walls, windows, doors and iron frames will be removed before conducting the restricted explosion.
* This will ensure that the building gets weakened. A restricted explosion called building implosion will be used for the demolition of the building.
* Nearby residents will be informed of restricted explosion before the demolition. They will be evacuated from the place for six to seven hours while the demolition process is going on.
*Electronic detonators will be used for the restricted explosion. Over 1000 small detonators will be used for the purpose. The first explosion will be conducted in the ground floor. The second explosion will be held at the fourth floor. Subsequently explosion will be conducted at other floors also. Explosion will be conducted with a gap of micro seconds. The building will collapse in five minutes.
* There will be no underground explosion. Hence there will be no impact on the earth.
* Building debris will be used for other purposes.
* The demolition process will be completed by January 9.