Kerala High Court orders demolition of DLF project in Kochi

Q: Kerala High Court orders partial demolition its controversial apartment complex DLF towers on the shores of a river in Kochi.

Rajeev Narayanan, Kochi

9th December 2014

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Replies (13)

The Vytilla project has 172 apartments, of which 70% have been sold and the project is almost completed. DLF had been earlier fine by the Competition Commission of India for misusing its dominant position in the market. Last month, the Competition Appellate Tribunal dismissed a DLF appeal against the Rs 630-crore penalty imposed by CCI two years earlier in a case related to a Gurgaon housing complex.

Allen George, Kochi

11th December 2014

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One more case associated with this project. Earlier, the opposition Left Democratic Front in Kerala strike the Congress-led United Democratic Front Government of showing improper favour in regularisation of the DLF project. Raising the issue, Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF members alleged corruption and political favouritism in giving fastly clearance to the project.

Deepak Shetty, Kochi

11th December 2014

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In reply Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and state environment minister T Radhakrishnan told the legislative assembly that the earlier clearance order from the environment department last April had been cancelled. The chief secretary will look into all aspects and file a report within 5 days.

Allen George, Kochi

11th December 2014

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That time DLF did not make any official comment. Sources close to the development said the company was to give possession to the buyers in a few weeks but this would now be delayed by a few months, as the company would have to re-apply for CRZ clearance.

Deepak Shetty, Kochi

10th December 2014

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Even in June 2014, DLF, has put on hold the delivery of its DLF Riverside luxury project in Kochi, after the Kerala government cancelled its coastal regulation zone clearance for unproven violation.

Allen George, Kochi

10th December 2014

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As per the Google map of 2007, several parts of the apartment complex come under the area of Chilavannoor back waters. The court also condemn the acts of Kochi Corporation to grant licenses quickly without examine the documents thoroughly and surveying the area.

Simon Benedict, Kochi

9th December 2014

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But as per the company's statement, it had approached various authorities for clearances in 2007. However, during three months period from September, 2007 it had got all the clearances including sanctioning of plan and building permit from the Corporation, No Objection Certificates from the Pollution Control Board and Fire and Rescue Services Department and even the clearance from Indian Navy about the height of various towers of the complex. The company had secured these important sanctions within a few days.

Rajesh Menon, Kochi

9th December 2014

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Although the court ordered to demolish the portions of the complex where violation is proved, in effect the entire complex should be demolished. Major stilt of the construction was in the encroached area. In some parts encroachment is even 100 meters. So the structure will not have existance, while demolishing some parts.

Simon Benedict, Kochi

9th December 2014

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The court also said that the various clearances given by the Kochi Corporation were not in accordance with the laws relating to construction of buildings in the city limits. The single bench headed by Justice A.V. Ramakrishna Pillai, however, did not set any time limit to act upon the order.

Rajesh Menon, Kochi

9th December 2014

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Well Rajesh,
Apart from that the committee in its report said that the authenticity of several documents, including the ownership of land, submitted by DLF, were doubtful. Also there is no clarity in the replies given by the company. The committee had surveyed the area before submitting the report and found out encroachment of several meters into the back waters.

Simon Benedict, Kochi

9th December 2014

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According to the report, the area where the project came up was marked as Pokkali fields in the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan of the region in 1996. Pokkali fields are natural paddy fields which has rich bio-diversity in it. The report also pointed out that the construction of some parts of the structure was breaching the CRZ Act.

Rajesh Menon, Kochi

9th December 2014

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You are right Rajesh,
Certainly, not for these two. The court also ordered to immediately stop any further construction of the apartment complex, which has several huge towers.

A three-member committee of the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority, who were appointed to inquire into the alleged Coastal Regulation Zone violation, had submitted its report to the Authority on July 22.

Simon Benedict, Kochi

9th December 2014

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Hi,
2014 is a bad year for both DLF and Sahara India Pariwar. The Kerala High Court today directed the government to take immediate steps to pull down the parts of the DLF's apartment complex, near Chilavannoor backwaters in Kochi, that was allegedly built in violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone.

Rajesh Menon, Kochi

9th December 2014

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