The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed concern over the sufferings of the Maradu flats residents in Kochi and directed the Kerala government to disburse Rs 25 lakh each as interim compensation to flat owners.

The compensation has to be paid by the state government within four weeks.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra gave the order while expressing its concern over illegal construction in coastal areas and natural disasters that follow due to these activities.

“We do not want Maradu flats’ residents to be left in dire straits. But our primary concern is illegal constructions in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas and natural disasters that follow. The flats have to be demolished. If you (government) cannot demolish it, we will ask someone else at your cost to do it,” the top court said.

Supreme Court also said that a committee of retired judges, technical experts and civil engineers will further evaluate the compensation payable to the flat owners.

The top court opined that shelter, as well as compensation, should be given to flat owners of Maradu. The court also said that money for the compensation amount should be recovered from the respective builders.

The apex court has fixed the matter for further hearing on October 25.

The Kerala government has proposed a time schedule of 120 days to demolish illegal flats at CRZ in Maradu. The government informed the court that in 90 days demolition activities will be completed and rest 30 days, it will take for cleaning the debris.

On May 8, the Supreme Court had ordered demolition of flats in Maradu municipality in Ernakulam district for violation of coastal regulation zone rules.

The court had passed the order after taking note of a report of a three-member committee, which said when the buildings were built, the area was already notified as a CRZ and construction was prohibited.

The Maradu complex comprises 356 flats in five buildings and houses 240 families. The apex court had on September 6 ordered its demolition by September 20 for violating the CRZ rules.

The court had earlier come down heavily on the Kerala government for non compliance of its verdict to demolish the buildings.

The top court said it is shocking to know about illegal structures coming up in coastal zone areas and said the chief secretary should conduct a survey to gauge the extent of devastation caused to nature.

The top court linked the loss of lives in the floods in that state too to the situation, saying the natural calamity was due to the government failing to act against illegal structures.

“Have you any idea how many people have died due to floods and devastation caused to the environment. You are playing with nature. Thousands of people have died in devastations. How many houses have you built for victims? Yet illegal structures continue to come up in coastal areas,” the bench told the Chief Secretary of the state.

The bench said the conduct of the chief secretary is of defiance and now he stands in great difficulty.

In an affidavit, the chief secretary of Kerala had assured the top court that its order would be complied with and the process for selecting a specialised agency for “controlled implosion” to demolish the buildings is underway.