Video Editor: Purnendu PritamVideo Producer: Aastha Gulati
Over two thousand residents living in Kochi’s Maradu are at at the brink of losing their homes after a recent Supreme Court order to demolish four apartment buildings in the area – H20 Holy Faith, Jains Coral Cove, Alfa Serene, and Golden Kayaloram – for violating CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) norms.
While a majority of the flats have now been vacated, uncertainty and disappointment loom large for residents who will soon have no place to call home. Several wondered how they could move out of their flats without having substitute arrangements from the concerned authorities.
Hopeless, many have temporarily shifted with relatives.
“We have a business in Perinthalmanna. We will have to go there now. My sister has a house there so we can move our things there temporarily.”Jacob T Percy, Flat Owner
Many who invested their life savings in these flats feel disheartened and anxious about the future.
“I bought this property to settle down once I retire from my active work life. Now I don’t know where to go.”Sreeshankar, Flat Owner
Electricity and power connections were also severed for a few days on 26 September, adding to their misery.
“Suddenly this order came that we have to vacate. They suddenly came and cut the water and electricity supply. They have re-installed electricity now but they have said they will cut it again post 3 October. We feel lost and confused right now. We don’t know where to go.”Jacob Percy, Flat Owner
Angered residents staged a protest and a hunger strike against SC’s order, but in vain. They stated that they bought their apartments unaware of the violations and that the notice of violations was given long after they purchased the property.
“We believe strongly that legal opinion is the most important thing when you purchase something. We thought that it’s all properly done and we had communication with the builder also, at that time everything was okay.”Rajesh Govindan, Flat Owner
Sreeshankar, another resident, echoed the sentiment.
“I never thought I will be impacted by this case for the simple reason that when I purchased this property, all legal scrutiny and report of the banks were clear. Moreover, the first show-cause notice that the panchayat gave to the builder was in June 2007, much after I bought the apartment.”
Flat owners are afraid of ending up on the streets.
“If they demolish this building, this area will become pathetic. There will be dust, allergy, all these things. Nobody is bothered about all that. There is something serious going on behind this. I don’t know. I leave it to my god and my faith.”Rajesh Govindan
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