Kerala CM calls for all-party meeting to discuss Maradu apartments demolition issue

Meanwhile, even as the residents' deadline to vacate their apartments ends on Sunday evening, the municipality officials are yet to receive any orders from the government. 
Kerala CM calls for all-party meeting to discuss Maradu apartments demolition issue
Kerala CM calls for all-party meeting to discuss Maradu apartments demolition issue
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With only five days left to implement the Supreme Court order to demolish the four apartment buildings in Kochi, which were constructed in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has finally called for an all-party meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue. This comes on the day when the Maradu municipality's deadline to about 2,000 residents to vacate their apartments comes to an end. 

The meeting will take place in Thiruvananthapuram at 3.30 pm on Tuesday. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had earlier demanded that the Chief Minister should call an all-party meeting to discuss the issue and take a decision on the plight of residents living in these apartments.

Earlier, the government had said that it will implement the apex court’s verdict of May 8, 2019. But now, with the residents strongly protesting and with various political parties, including the ruling CPI(M) party, coming out in support of the people living in the apartments, the government decided to call the meeting. 

The apex court of the country has given an ultimatum to demolish four apartment buildings - Jains Coral Cove, Golden Kayaloram, H2O Holy Faith and Alfa Serene - located in Maradu municipality in Ernakulam district, by September 20.

'Waiting for orders from govt' 

As per the eviction notice issued by the municipality to the residents on Tuesday, they have to vacate the apartments by 5 pm on Sunday. But with the residents taking a stance that they will not move out of their homes at any cost, the officials of the local body are in a dilemma.

Talking to TNM on the issue, municipality secretary Muhammad Arif Khan said, “We have not received any information on the course of action. We will move ahead with making the residents vacate only after the government gives the directive,” the secretary said. 

Meanwhile, the residents of the apartments have welcomed the Chief Minister’s call for the all-party meeting. “We are looking forward to it as this is our only hope as of now and we expect a humanitarian decision,” said George Kovoor, a resident of Jains Coral Cove. 

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