Ernakulam administration look for places to rehabilitate Maradu flat residents

Representative image KOCHI: Ernakulam district administration is on the look out for places to rehabilitate the residents, who will be displaced once the four flats in Maradu are demolished as per Supreme Court order.

Following the administration’s direction to prepare a list of families to be rehabilitated, the local body on Thursday submitted details of 343 families in the four buildings to be demolished, There are about 400 flat owners.

The administration asked revenue officials to identify places like community halls for rehabilitation. However, it is sceptical whether these families would be ready to vacate their apartments once the local body moves forward with steps to demolish the buildings.

“The municipality is responsible for the demolition. The administration can only provide rehabilitation. Since the residents have moved to court and we have time till September 20, the ultimatum given by the SC, we have temporarily suspended the search for places.

Read also Have no technical or financial means to demolish apartments: Maradu municipality SC directs Kerala to demolish about 500 Maradu flats by September 20 After SC's order Kerala government to demolish five apartments in Maradu Maradu flat owners to approach Kerala HC over eviction notice
We have just enquired about the quarters of Fertilizer and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT) in Ambalamugal. It is in bad shape necessitating renovation before shifting the willing families. We are waiting for the collector' decision. But we don’t know how many families would be willing to stay in camps,” said a revenue official.

Meanwhile, sources close to the collector said that not all residents require rehabilitation by the administration. Many can shift to relatives’ houses and look for other accommodations and it will provide facilities only to the needful.