Following the Supreme Court direction of allowing interim compensation to evicted residents of the four apartment complexes in Maradu, the Kerala government has put out an order sanctioning temporary recompense for 38 apartment owners.
In an order dated October 21, the government sanctioned an amount of Rs 6.98 crore to be given to these apartment owners.
Though the Supreme Court appointed panel, headed by Justice Balakrishnan Nair, had initially recommended the government to sanction interim relief amounting to Rs 19 crore to 107 families after verifying the sale deeds, the relief has been sanctioned for 38 families. The approved compensation amount will be deposited to the bank accounts of the apartment owners. The Under Secretary of Finance (Accounts) Department has been given the charge to transfer the amounts to the flat owners.
Though the Supreme Court order was initially perceived as all evicted flat owners will be given Rs 25 lakh as interim recompense, it was later clarified by the SC appointed panel that amounts corresponding to building value will be given as compensation. Only those with a building value higher than Rs 25 lakh, will be given the specified amount as interim relief.
The panel, in its sitting held in Kochi on Tuesday, sanctioned the claim petitions of 34 more evicted families. A sum of Rs 6.15 crore has been recommended for these families. This will also be forwarded to the state government soon.
With this, the panel has now recommended interim relief for 141 flat owners so far after checking their claim petitions and documents. A total of 326 families were evicted from the apartments of Jain Coral Cove, H20 Holy Faith, Golden Kayaloram and the twin towers of Alfa Serene. Out of a total of 326 families, claim petitions have not yet been submitted by 80 apartment owners.
Meanwhile, according to the panel, only one of the four builders – Jain Housing and Construction Ltd – has submitted the report on actual amount of money paid by the flat owners. The panel has stated that the other three builders should submit the details by October 26.
Crime Branch probe
The special investigation team (SIT) of Crime Branch which is probing the construction of apartment buildings violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, has decided to turn their lens on council members of the former local body, that is the Maradu panchayat (presently a municipality).
According to officials of the SIT, the ruling and opposition council members of Maradu panchayat in 2006 will be questioned on Wednesday. The members have been issued notice.
The Crime Branch has already arrested two former officials of Maradu panchayat - Mohammed Ashraf, then secretary and PE Joseph, junior superintendent – in addition to Sany Francis, director of Holy Faith Builders and Developers Private Limited.