AWHO given ultimatum to sign pact on demolition of Chander Kunj towers in a week

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AWHO and Chander Kunj Army Towers apartment owners have been asked to hold consultations within 15 days to resolve disputes over the handing over of apartment keys. | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

The district administration has issued an ultimatum to the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) to sign a contract for the demolition of the Chander Kunj Army Towers on Silver Sand Island, Vyttila, within a week, failing which contempt of court proceedings will be initiated.

The decision was taken at a special meeting of the district committee chaired by District Collector G. Priyanka on Tuesday. AWHO has also been handed a draft of the contract prepared by the district administration, with instructions that the demolition be carried out strictly in compliance within the stipulated time frame. The organisation will be required to pay upfront the entire cost of demolition, including Goods and Services Tax, if the contract is not signed within the week.

Ms. Priyanka also addressed the case of 24 owners who had not yet received rent from AWHO, which cited inadequate documentation as the reason. The Deputy Collector (Disaster Management) will convene a meeting on June 15 to resolve document-related issues. Each of the 24 cases will be examined individually to ensure that all affected families possess the requisite documents.

After being denied the second tranche of rent for six months beginning March, along with one-time shifting charges of ₹30,000, the Chander Kunj Army Towers Apartment Owners Association (CATAOA) had filed a contempt petition against AWHO in the Kerala High Court earlier this year.

The Collector has also ordered that rent to apartment owners be paid in advance. AWHO and apartment owners have been asked to hold consultations within 15 days to resolve disputes over the handing over of apartment keys. Any disputes persisting beyond that period will be settled at the level of the tahsildar.

A sub-committee led by the Fort Kochi Revenue Divisional Officer was constitu