Thiruvananthapuram: The recent ruling of the Supreme Court of India to demolish five flats in Marad located in Ernakulam district for violating environmental laws is also applicable to about another thousand buildings constructed illegally.
Many residential apartments are built flouting environmental rules and regulations with active assistance from government officials. The government’s own study after the Marad issue has brought this to light.
This was informed to the Cabinet by the government Chief Secretary, Tom Jose. The apex court had pulled up the Chief Secretary of Kerala and gave him a dressing down for not demolishing the flats in Marad for violating environmental rules. The court had observed that these violations was a reason for last year’s devastating floods in Kerala.
The Cabinet has decided to extract compensation from the builders who have constructed buildings illegally and also move against those officials who have been in cahoots with the builders.
The Supreme Court’s verdict will affect every other constructions that was built illegally and no relief could be given to any one of it.
The apex court has ordered a probe into every illegal construction by violation of environmental laws. The court also held the erring officials as responsible for the floods of last year.
The court also ordered to survey the coastal regions of the state and if any violations are observed then the Chief Secretary will be responsible. The court demanded a new affidavit in four days with all the details of constructions that have violated the coastal area regulations and the steps taken to those who have violated the rules.
