The Thrikkakara municipality has issued an eviction notice to the residents of the Apple Heights apartment complex in Vazhakkala, alleging non-payment of taxes. The notice, sent on October 27, claims that the municipality incurred losses due to non-receipt of permit fees and taxes from the 85 families residing in the complex. The municipality asserts that the building is "illegal" and lacks necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs). The eviction notice warns of potential issues if residents continue to stay without proper documentation and calls for steps to vacate them. The matter stems from an ongoing dispute over land acquisition for metro route development.
The Thrikkakara municipality has served an eviction notice to the residents of the Apple Heights apartment complex in Vazhakkala, alleging their failure to pay taxes to the local body. The municipality, in the notice sent to the residents' association on October 27, stated that it has incurred substantial losses due to non-receipt of permit fees and taxes from the 85 families currently residing in the complex, most of whom are tenants. The municipality secretary emphasized that despite holding a meeting with the association members prior to the notice, the building remains "illegal." The association has not submitted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the fire service and the Pollution Control Board (PCB). The notice warned of potential future issues if residents continued to stay without proper documentation and urged steps to vacate them. Earlier discussions between municipality authorities and the association failed to resolve the matter. The municipality claims that the association has not paid taxes for the unauthorized construction of 11,836 sq ft in the high-rise building. Allegedly, infighting within the association has further delayed the payment of dues, leading to the withholding of house numbers. The issue dates back to 2021 when Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) sought to acquire a portion of the association's land for metro route development to Kakkanad. A compensation of Rs 1.36 crore was agreed upon, but due to a pending ownership case in the high court, the amount was remitted to the court. Recent attempts by the municipality to settle the matter involved proposing that residents use the funds remitted by KMRL to pay the pending dues of Rs 1.11 crore. However, the meeting with the residents failed to reach a resolution. The residents' association of Apple Heights expressed commitment to resolving the issue promptly. An office bearer stated, "We are holding discussions with our members to settle the matter. The amount will be paid at the earliest, and we will ensure that no one is evicted from the building." Meanwhile, Anandan Nambiar, owner of 30 flats in the building, has filed a case in the high court seeking a 25.82% stake in the KMRL compensation for land acquisition. Nambiar emphasized the need to receive his dues before the association decides on the remaining amount. Nambiar further revealed that in 2018, the association collected Rs 1.3 crore from residents to pay the dues. However, questions arise as about Rs 30 lakh was spent on renovations, and residents are unaware of the whereabouts of the remaining amount.
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