Realty major DLF got a jolt on Monday with the Kerala High Court directing it to demolish certain portions of its controversial apartment complex on the shores of a river in Kochi. A single bench also ordered that all construction work on the complex be stopped.
Justice AV Ramakrishna Pillai issued the directive while disposing of a petition by AV Antony and held that Cochin Corporation was at fault in allowing the building there. The premium project has been constructed on five acres with a 175-metre river frontage. Sources say over 180 units in the complex are priced over R1.5 crore.
A few months ago, the Kerala government had revoked an environmental clearance given to the apartment complex after the Opposition alleged corruption and favoritism. The Opposition is alleging that the high-rise building on the shore of the river has been constructed in violation of the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms, and that the Congress-led UDF regime has shown “undue favour” in regularising it.