More than five months after the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of four apartment buildings in Maradu for violating Coastal Regulation Zone norms, authorities have now revealed the details of those violations.
The special investigation team of Crime Branch probing the illegal constructions told TNM that the twin towers of Alfa Ventures apartment buildings has been built encroaching 17 cents of Vembanad Lake. Authorities also told TNM that Jains Coral Cove apartment was built on a wetland.
“Alfa Serene was built up after filling 17 cents of Vembanad Lake, while H2O Holy Faith apartment is partially constructed on the water body and Jains Coral Cove is completely built on a wetland,” an investigating officer told TNM.
Alfa Serene, H20 Holy Faith, Jains Coral Cove and Golden Kayaloram are the apartment complexes that have been ordered to be demolished by the Supreme Court after they were found to violate Coastal Regulation Zone norms.
The Crime Branch has already arrested Sany Francis, MD of Holy Faith Builders and Developers Pvt Ltd, in connection with the probe, along with two former officials of Maradu panchayat. According to investigating officers, the three are currently under judicial custody, but they will ask the court to release them to police custody for further questioning.
Investigation officers also hinted that the managing director of Alfa Ventures Private Ltd is likely to be arrested on Saturday.
Crime Branch officials on Friday also raided the head office of Jain Housing and Construction Ltd in Chennai.
Meanwhile on Friday, the Supreme Court-appointed panel, which sanctions the interim compensation to Maradu apartment residents, cleared the claim petitions of 58 more families. With this, the committee has now sanctioned interim relief to 107 apartment owners, amounting to Rs 19 crores.
As per official figures, a total of 326 families were evicted from the four apartment complexes.
Fifty eight petitions from residents of four apartments were considered on Friday and interim relief ranging from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 25 lakh were sanctioned to various residents. The panel has also directed all residents, to whom the relief amount has been sanctioned, to produce more evidence to substantiate their claims in order to receive further compensation.
Also read: