Kochi Corporation flouted coastal regulation zone rules: CAG

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CAG has pulled up the Kochi Corporation for giving permission to 19 companies including DLF to construct building without conforming to Coastal Regulation zone rules. In its report CAG said sanction was given to 19 buildings which sit on lands that encroached the lagoon in Chilavannoor region.

Stop memos were given to buildings that had started construction without proper permits. But construction went on, despite the memo. Most buildings have up to 20 storeys. Even, buildings have come up in areas under archaeological protection zones, where plots have been levelled using sand. The condition that the permission of Coastal Regulation Zone Management Authority is required to construct buildings in costal zones was neglected.

The rule is that construction activities should not be carried out in places within a distance of 100 metre from the river coast. But the CAG pointed out that a three-storey building in the name of prominent industrialist M A Yousafali is just 10 metres away from a river coast.