The Kochi Corporation has decided to call in for hearing two major  
alleged defaulters of Building Regulation Act in the next Corporation
council slated for January 6. The move is in connection with speeding
up  actions against unauthorised constructions in the city.

“The
defaulters have bifurcated the space allotted by the Corporation  
without seeking permission and made a profit out of it,” said a top
official with the Corporation. One of the cases involves a multi-cuisine
restaurant in the city, which was  booked for unauthorised construction
by the corporation earlier and the other involves a well-known Travels
and Tours operator, who according to the Corporation, had occupied an
office space in the Vytilla Shopping complex illegally.

The
travels operator has occupied a 300 sq-feet office space in Vytilla,
owned by the corporation. The civic body had earlier issued a show cause
notice to the tour operator – as per the decision of the corporation
council on December 12, 2012 – asking to clear the space within 48 hours
and return it to the Corporation. However, as the tour operator
approached the High Court, the court cancelled the Council decision and
referred it to hear the applicant in its Council meeting within two
months.

An inspection by the Town Planning Committee earlier had
booked the multi-cuisine restaurant for illegal construction and had
issued notice for its demolition. As the hotelier did not respond to the
notice, the Corporation had cancelled the license of the hotel. Though
the owners filed an appeal later, it was rejected by the Corporation
saying it was submitted after the stipulated time to file an appeal.

The
hotelier later moved to the High Court and obtained a stay against the
cancellation. In its final verdict, the court asked the council to hear
the applicant in its council meeting and to conclude the matter.