Kochi: Even as the one-week deadline set by the Ernakulam district administration expired on Thursday, the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) has yet to sign the agreement for the demolition of the structurally unsafe B and C towers of Chander Kunj Army Apartments at Silver Sand Island, Vyttila. The deadline had been fixed following a meeting of the expert committee chaired by District Collector G Priyanka last week.
AWHO Releases Funds but Skips Agreement
However, AWHO has informed the collector that it has released Rs 2.85 crore towards the demolition. A purported letter accessed by TOI stated that the amount, representing 25% of the contract value along with applicable GST, was transferred on Monday and deposited into the account maintained by the district administration. In the letter, AWHO said although it had earlier conveyed its concerns over signing a contract agreement with the contractor, it would bear the demolition cost as proposed in the minutes of the expert committee meeting.
Payment Terms Detailed
According to the letter, the total contract value for the demolition work is Rs 9.66 crore, excluding GST. Under the payment terms, 25% of the amount is to be paid as a mobilization advance upon signing the agreement, submission of performance security, and approval of the demolition methodology and work schedule. Another 25% is to be released two weeks after the completion of blasting, subject to certification by the executive engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD). The remaining 50% will be released after the successful completion of demolition, debris removal, and handing over of the cleared site.
No Immediate Action Planned
Senior district administration officials confirmed that AWHO has not signed the agreement. However, they said no immediate action is being contemplated against the organization and that another meeting is likely to be convened next week.
Resident Welfare Association Demands Action
Representatives of the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) maintained that AWHO is obligated to sign the contract. “The builder who constructed a dangerous building is bound to demolish it,” said RWA President Saji Thomas. The association has also urged the collector and the District Disaster Management Authority to take immediate measures to ensure that the demolition and subsequent reconstruction are carried out in accordance with court directives.
