Demolition of illegal cottages in Kochi put on hold

Revenue officials are planning to slap a show-cause notice on the management of Vaamika Resorts at Panavally for failing to demolish the illegal structures erected on Vettila Thuruthu Island in Vembanad Lake.

The Supreme Court had earlier ordered that the unauthorised structures in the resort should be pulled down. The court had also dismissed a Special Leave Petition filed by the resort owners.

Though the resort management was asked to demolish the illegal structures, which included two fully completed buildings and a partially constructed one, they have not complied with the order. The demolition was stopped halfway, said M. Sundaran Achari, Thahasildar, Cherthala.

One month has passed since the deadline for the order for knocking down the structure was issued and hence the legal action.

The Village officer of Panavally was directed to issue a show-cause notice, he said.

Earlier, the panchayat authorities had shared information and pictures of demolition drive with the Revenue officials.

A team of officials led by the Alappuzha District Collector was expected to visit the site to confirm that the court order regarding the demolition was implemented in full, an official said.

At the same time, the resort authorities maintained that the demolition was stopped halfway following a direction from some officials regarding the disposal of debris.

An official had directed that structure could be razed down only after making elaborate arrangements for the management of debris. The Revenue officials were informed about the developments, said the manager of the resort. The resort authorities also maintained that they lacked the expertise for the management of debris from the demolition of the buildings structures

Kapico Resorts

The officials are awaiting an order from the Chief Secretary for implementing the Kerala High Court order to pull down the illegal cottages constructed by Kapico Kerala Resorts on Nediathuruthu in Vembanad Lake. The court had ordered that the villas constructed in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone notification be razed. As the demolition requires expertise and money, which are beyond the means of the district administration, it requires a government order for raising the resources.

The Buildings Division of the PWD has been asked to prepare a report on the technique to be employed for bring down the cottages. An action plan for the removal of debris from the site also has to be prepared. Tenders would have to be floated inviting expert groups for the demolition job after obtaining sanction from the government, said an official of the district administration.