KOCHI: The Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) is set to reconstruct a flat built under the Saphalyam housing scheme in Chottanikkara, allocating ₹2.27 crore for the project. The existing flat has become uninhabitable due to significant structural issues that emerged within four years of its construction.
KSHB officials, alongside panchayat authorities, assessed the flat before initiating plans for the new construction. The three-storeyed building was designed to house 24 families and was erected between 2015 and 2020 during the UDF local body administration. It was discovered that multiple organizations, including KSHB and the local body, failed to adequately oversee the construction, which resulted in structural defects. This prompted the previous governing council to file a petition in the High Court against the board and relocate the affected families to rented accommodations.
The local body covered rental costs amounting to ₹5000 per month for each family. Following a High Court directive, the principal secretary of the board held a meeting where it was resolved that KSHB would proceed with the reconstruction on a 33 cent plot of land.
According to Raju Mattathil, the panchayat president, KSHB will devise a detailed plan for the new flat, which will be constructed after the current structure is demolished. “A KSHB engineer visited the site recently. The new building will be made of concrete to enhance its durability. We also aspire to build additional flats for homeless families on the same land,” he stated.
It was noted that the now-condemned building was constructed without proper foundations. Instead of using a concrete mixture and iron poles, gypsum panels were merely placed and filled with soil. This led to weakening of the structure during rainy seasons, jeopardizing the safety of its residents.
