Biju Ramesh challenges demolition in Kerala High Court
He said that an expert agency would be brought in to demolish the structure as planned earlier
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has landed in a fix with Mr Biju Ramesh, the owner of the five-storey beer and wine parlour standing over the decades- old Thekkanamkara Canal, approaching the high court challenging the demolition order issued by the Authority.
The owner of Karimpanal Arcade, one of the other encroachments identified as part of Operation Anantha, has also approached the court seeking intervention.
The disaster management authority issued the final order directing Mr Biju Ramesh to knock down the five storey structure on August 21 and gave 15 days time to carry out the demolition.
The structure is standing over the Thekkanamkara canal – one of the two prime canals controlling the entire storm water drainage system of the state capital. The order was issued under Section 34(K) of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) by DDMA chairman.
Additional District Magistrate (ADM) V R Vinod, the chairman of DDMA, said that the order was final and the structure would be knocked down soon. “The time allotted as per the order would end on Saturday. There is a case going on at the High Court. We are not sure whether we can go ahead and pull down the building or wait for the decision of the HC. Our officials held a discussion with the attorney general,” said Mr Vinod.
He said that an expert agency would be brought in to demolish the structure as planned earlier. The district administration had evicted a large number of encroachments over major canals and thodu within the limits as part of Operation Anantha, which was launched to control recurring flooding at Thampanoor.
The drive exposed that Mr Biju Ramesh had encroached nearly 7 cent ‘purampokk’ land to construct the structure.