DLF demolition case: Greens express dismay on Kerala High Court judgment

Kochi: The green activists in the state expressed dismay over the Kerala High Court judgment annulling the order of a single bench to demolish portions of the DLF Riverside, a premium apartment complex. “The order of the division bench is disappointing,” said Prof V.S. Vijayan, former chairman of Kerala Biodiversity Board.

“The order is in violation of the Supreme Court judgments in similar cases,” he said. The fine of Rs 1 crore imposed by the court is not even the cost of a single apartment in the complex, he said and added “it is peanuts for a corporate like DLF.” The court should have at least considered the option of the ownership of the building being taken away from the company and converted into a space for public utility, he said. “The present judgment is an open invitation for violation of rules,” he added.

Mr Purushan Eloor, another green activist in Kochi, stated that the judgment sent a wrong signal to the people of the state. Describing it as very isappointing, he said the environmental activists will have to devise ways to legally challenge the order.

“The judgment is a setback to the fishermen community and those in the coastal areas in the state, said Mr Charles George, state convener of the Matsya Thozhilai Aikyavedi.