Kochi: The authorities gave more time to the residents of the four Maradu apartment complexes to shift their belongings on their individual assurance to leave at the earliest as the deadline for their eviction ended on Thursday night.
Nearly 180 residents out of the 328 families fully vacated the flats before the deadline. The remaining have agreed to give individual undertakings to sub-collector Snehil Kumar Singh that they are in the process of moving out and require additional time.
“Over 180 flat owners have vacated. Also we’ve readied 42 flats for rehabilitation of those who apply for the same. Volunteers have been deployed to help the owners with the shifting process. Additional time will be allotted if they formally request for the same,” said collector S. Suhas who visited the flats late in the night.
“All of them have informed us of their willingness to vacate the flats. We’ll help in the logistic movement by deploying sufficient cops from AR camps at the flats. The personnel will help secure the belongings and also aid in shifting,” said Kumar, in-charge of the demolition mission.
The authorities decided not to cut electricity and water connections for the time being as the same will affect the shifting pace. Also the owners who want alternative accommodation can submit formal request to the authorities who will assist them.
Only 94 applied for alternative accommodation till 5 p.m. on Thursday, as 50 more flat owners vacated. “All residents of Jains Coral Cove have moved out,” Kumar said.
The authorities aided by police personnel visited the flats, including ‘Holy Faith H2O’, Alfa Serene and Golden Kayaloram in the evening to assess the situation after a high-level meeting held earlier in the day decided not to use force but to report to the court on those who refuse to vacate.
“ACP K. Laljy who came as a messenger of the collector asked us to give in writing that we’re in the process of vacating the flats and also the time required for the same. Each has to give separate letters,” said Shamsuddhin, Maradu Bhavana Samrakshana Samiti president.
In the case of NRK owners who couldn’t return yet, they can take away their belongings till the buildings are officially handed over to the companies in charge for demolition. If any one of them couldn’t make it before that, the district administration will arrange the safe custody of the belongings in their flat till they arrive.
