SC to Kerala govt: Contact Nair panel for residents’ relief

The Supreme Court on Friday told Kerala government to approach Justice K. Balakrishnan Nair Committee for seeking the extension of deadline for the payment of interim compensation to the owners of Maradu flats in Ernakulam district that were illegally constructed in violation of Coastal Zone Regulations and were ordered to be demolished by the top court.

Justice Nair – a former judge of Karala High Court is heading a threemember committee to supervise the demolition of 400 odd flats and also fix responsibility on the officials responsible for the construction 400 plus flats in violation of the CRZ guidelines.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra directed the Kerala government to approach Justice Nair Committee as affidavit filed by the State Chief SecretaryTom Jose informed the court about the difficulties they were encountering in the disbursal of the interim compensation that has been fixed at Rs. 25 lakhs for each of the affected flat owners.

The flats, which are being demolished in phases, are part of four high rise apartment complexes — Alfa Serene, Golden Kayaloram, Jain Coral Cove, Holy Faith H2O.

Kerala government informed the top court that the three-member committee received 274 claims from 266 flat owners covering 279 flats till November 15 — the deadline for making the claims.

The state government said that there were issues relating to the verification of the account numbers to which the compensation amount is to transfixed. The top court by its September 27 order had given the state government four-weeks time to pay the interim compensation.