Twin towers, countless troubles Premium
The Hindu
Installation in Chander Kunj Army Towers sparks legal battle after court orders demolition due to structural distress.
If ever an installation was to epitomise the fury of a man cheated of his life’s savings, then the one in the parking lot 72 in Tower B of Chander Kunj Army Towers on Silversand Island, Vytilla, Kochi, would come close.
On the floor, spread out like a floral carpet are concrete flakes of different sizes and shapes. Alongside it, arranged on a bowl kept on a footstool are thin, rusted rebars (reinforcing bars) and brown-coloured dust into which many similar rusted rebars have been reduced into. Paul Erinjeri, 73, who retired as a captain after 28 years in the Indian Army did not painstakingly collect them from far and wide to fulfil some exotic post-retirement artistic fad.
Rather, they tumbled down off the roofs or the countless renovations forced upon many of the 208 apartment owners in Towers B and C of the apartment complex, located about a km away from the busy Vyttila junction.
On February 3, 2025, the Kerala High Court ordered the demolition and reconstruction of the two towers “to prevent casualties and protect lives and properties.”
“One of my two apartments, which together cost me around ₹1.40 crore, is now a storehouse of the debris and documents revealing how we are in danger of losing our apartments just seven years after they were delivered to us,” Paul says.
The High Court order came on a batch of writ petitions filed by the association of the owners and some individual owners. They had challenged an order from the District Collector directing retrofitting and sought reconstruction as well as compensation.
Chander Kunj Army Towers, a gated community near Thykoodam metro station, was developed by the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO), a registered society controlled by the Indian Army, solely for serving and retired defence personnel and their dependents. The construction was carried out by Silpa Projects and Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. and the architect and the project management consultant was Ajith Architects. The project was supervised locally by an officer of the rank of Colonel who was in charge as the Project Director, AWHO.
Thirumavalavan urges CM Stalin to ensure Kamal Haasan’s MNM contests the Assembly elections to strengthen the alliance.
Two killed and 23 injured in a sleeper bus accident in central Delhi; investigation ongoing.
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla inaugurates the 74th All India Police Football Championship in Hyderabad, emphasizing sports' role in policing.
Visakhapatnam police recover ₹66 lakh in property from 54 arrested in February, solving 62 crime cases.
OPS claims EPS's lost credibility will undermine AIADMK's election manifesto, as DMK promises have proven reliable and effective.
Explore Modakkurichi's agrarian challenges, development gaps, and tourism potential as it gears up for the upcoming elections.
The Govindapura police have successfully traced an 84-year-old man suffering from dementia who had gone missing last month, following a sustained 25-day search operation across the city.
First randomisation of EVMs and VVPATs held in Dindigul, Theni districts
Madras High Court permits Dayanidhi Maran to summon Union Telecom Secretary as witness in illegal telephone exchange case.
President of Mysuru District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission A.K. Naveen Kumari has called upon consumers to check for quality certifications like ISI on products before purchasing them.
Students and women’s self-help groups in Madurai engage in vibrant voter awareness campaigns promoting 100% voting participation.
India pledges 60% non-fossil fuel power by 2035, targeting 47% emissions reduction per GDP unit and enhanced carbon sinks.
Supreme Court rules land acquisition compensation and interest must uphold constitutional guarantees, unaffected by financial burdens.