Kochi: Two of the high rises of the Maradu flats in Ernakulam district of Kerala was demolished at around 11.20 am on Saturday, complying with the orders of the Apex Court which held the structures to be illegal as they had been built in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone norms.
Evacuation of people residing around the two illegal apartment complexes here was completed hours before the demolition of the structures began.
The prohibitory order declared by the Ernakulam District Collector using his authority as District Magistrate came into force at 8 am in the evacuation zone of the two residential complexes--H2O Holy faith and Alfa Serene--being demolished at Maradu municipality.
Evacuation of people residing in the 200-meter radius is completed and traffic has been regulated through the roads around the structures.
The complexes housing a total of 343 flats would be brought down using the implosion method and the companies engaged for it has completed the filling of explosives in the structures. Ban orders under Section 144 of CrPC imposed in the evacuation zone from 8 am to 4 pm to prevent movement of the public within a 200m radius.
All traffic airborne, waterborne and land-based -- are prohibited in the evacuation zone. All buildings have been charged with explosives, none shall fly drones from immediate effect.
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Earlier, Kochi police commissioner and Inspector General Vijay Sakhare took an assessment of the preparations being made to bring down the illegal structures, as had been ordered by the Supreme Court for violation of coastal regulation zone norms.
A total of 343 waterfront flats were built in the complexes violating the Coastal Regulation Zone norms. The apex court in September last year had directed the demolition of the apartment complexes within 138 days, a timeline was given by the Kerala government.
On May 8 last year, the apex court had directed that these buildings be removed within a month as they were constructed in a notified CRZ, which was part of the tidally- influenced water body in Kerala.
The court had passed the order after taking note of a report of a three-member committee, which said when the buildings were built, the area was already notified as a CRZ and construction was prohibited.
