Maradu: Neighbours share the blues

Kochi: Hundreds of residents living in the vicinity of the five Maradu apartments that the Supreme Court had ordered for demolition for violating coastal regulation norms have come out in the open against the move, saying the exercise would affect their houses.

The demolition process  would also impact major infrastructure like the Kundanoor-Thevara bridge.

“The apartments are 18-story buildings accommodating 125 flats,” said Suneela Siby, divisional (Kundanoor) counselor and chairperson of 'Pawravedi'. “Never before such huge structures were razed down in the state and we fear the same will affect houses of those residing near-by. The residents are set to move a separate petition before the High Court against the exercise.”

A mass signature campaign was held on Monday among the nearly 500 families living within one-km radius of the apartments.

“The ecological impact of demolishing such huge structures will affect the region. A BPCL oil pipeline and the state's longest Kundanoor-Thevara (1.75 km) bridge are passing near-by the Holy Faith H20 apartment," said N Radhakrishnan, who resides near the 18-storey building.