Dust coats neighbourhood after Maradu demolition
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Kochi: A day after the demolition of five apartment blocks, angry local residents vented their anger against the Maradu municipality in Kerala demanding an immediate clean up of the residual dust that has engulfed the area.
"Last night around 9.30 p.m., my child suffered breathing problems and had to be rushed to the nearby hospital," said a local resident.
"The dust is causing several issues, we are unable to cook anything. It has come to a stage that every hour we have to clean the house, as the dust returns quickly after we clean. The authorities have to come to our rescue," said another resident.
Meanwhile pollution expert Aravind Kumar after examining the locality said that the quality of air is not that bad.
T.H. Nadira, the chairperson of the municipality was at the receiving end, when two dozen women surrounded her office and demanded quick action to remove the dust.
"We have made all arrangements to see that water is sprayed on the debris. We have also got in touch with the higher ups to see that the problem is addressed. We are doing everything to decrease the difficulties faced by those living in the neighbourhood of where the five apartment blocks were razed," said Nadira.
Four months after the Supreme Court ordered demolition of five apartment blocks at Maradu, the last of the apartment blocks of Golden Kayalorem was razed on Sunday afternoon.
The Ernakulam district administration that oversaw the demolition has handed over the removal of the debris and dust to a company which has estimated the debris at around 76,000 tonnes of concrete.
The company have to first separate the steel from the concrete and then dispose it off for which they have 70 days to finish the job.
It was on September 6 that the apex court had ordered the demolition by September 20 for violating the Coastal Regulation Zone rules but the Kerala government dilly-dallied on it.
It was only after the court took a tough stance that the Kerala government realised that there was no way out but the demolition of the buildings.
After several rounds of discussions, the demolition date was finalised. Through an open tender, the task of demolition was given to firms that had experience of such operations.
