KOZHIKODE, Sept 25: The reaffirming stance of the Supreme court in the Maradu flats fiasco on September 23 has opened a pandora’s box with respect to constructions, in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act, in Kerala.
The signals that are being sent out by the apex court against constructions in violation of extant rules and regulations are tough and strong to the officials and the politicians whose nexus facilitated many such illegal constructions, be in on the waterfront, sensitive hillocks or elsewhere.
Sources said there are as many as 65 illegal constructions, in violation of CRZ, as per a survey by the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority.
The Apex Court directive is expected to have widespread ramifications as regards the unholy nexus between the politicians, bureaucrats and the real estate lobby in Kerala.
No wonder that the Government had on Wednesday decided to move legally against the builders of the five apartments in Maradu, which would soon be grounded, if things appears as of now. In response to the strongly worded remarks by the Top court, the authorities are gearing up for the never-before shaving of five multi-storied constructions in Maradu.
Apart from pulling up the Government, for not having implemented the court order in demolishing the five apartments in Maradu, the apex court instructed the Chief Secretary (CS) of the State to submit a comprehensive list of all CRZ violations in Kerala. That apart the victims of the Maradu fiasco has also urged the State Government to publish a list of all illegal constructions in Kerala, in violation of CRZ norms.
The move by the government, in tune with the terms of the apex court, has raised the eyebrows of many as it could be a repeat Maradu-like catastrophe in the offing for those constructions that would find a place in the CS’s list.
There will not be any other legal option for the violators as a plea by the Maradu flat owners’ association against the Maradu Municipality’s eviction notice has been summarily rejected by the High Court, pointing out that nothing in respect to an order of the apex court could be entertained.
The move by the State Government, in total and unconditional support by all the political parties in the State, barring a lone CPI, to save the flats from being razed off, has failed miserably in the Supreme court with Justice Arun Kumar Mishra tightening its grip over the State with a bigger and stronger rope by directing the Chief Secretary to report on all irregular constructions in violation of CRZ. Apart from the flat owners of Maradu, the bigger question of a state-wide list of illegal constructions would lead to more questions than answers on more illegal occupancies that were facilitated out of the unholy bondage of politicians and the rich and the influential.
If prepared in letter and spirit, the list would throw open hundreds of “Maradu-like” illegalities and give birth to hundreds, if not thousands, of victims of deceitful constructions that had taken place in various parts of the State.
A tougher stance by the apex court would further increase the crisis of the realty sector in the State and perhaps include huge hospitality, healthcare and retail institutions that has propped up on the riverbanks across the State.
The need for the immediate notification of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) in Kerala, the draft of which is ready, is reiterated as a fallout of the Maradu catastrophe.
(UNI)
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