How the Supertech Twin Towers Ended In Demolition.

Till recently Emerald Court at Noida's Sector 93A was testimony to corruption in the state's building sector. Today, a mountain of rubbles and dust stand at the site. And buried under this huge pile is a story surrounding the controversy, the residents' legal battle and how the authorities brought the Supertech twin towers down.

Why Were The Twin Towers Demolished

* New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) gave Supertech permission in 2005 to construct 14 towers with 9 storeys each, a shopping centre and a garden area. However, Supertech surreptitiously added two extra floors to the structure.

* In 2009, changes were made to the proposal by including the Apex & Ceyane twin structures. A case filed by the Emerald Court Owners Residents Welfare Association in the Allahabad High Court in 2012 claimed NOIDA officials approved a new plan to illegally construct the twin towers.

* Four residents first raised the alarm on violation of building laws by Supertech. They raised donations to fund their legal battle.

* In 2014, HC ordered razing the towers. HC castigated NOIDA for collaborating with the builder which was directed to reimburse flat buyers. The same year, Supertech moved Supreme Court.

* 31 Aug 2021 Two-judge bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah pointed to "co-operation" between NOIDA officials and Supertech management. It also said that the approval plan for the twin towers violated the UP Apartments Act 2010 and the NBRs of 1975, 2005. 2006 and 2010.

* It held that Supertech hadmade misleading arguments and attempted to deceive bench while NOIDA officials had not carried out their responsibilities honourably.

* NOIDA officials informed SC in February 2022 that demolition work had started and will probably be finished by May 2022. The SC extended this to 28 Aug 2022.  

Demolition Cost

* Rs.20 cr or Rs.267 per sq ft.

* Edifice Engineering obtained a Rs.100-cr insurance policy to cover potential losses.

* Supertech paid about Rs.5 cr as demolition costs

* The rest (Rs.15 cr) would be covered by selling the 80,000 tons of debris.

My take

For the builder mafia, this is the second setback after the demolition of the two multi-storeyed towers at Maradu in Kochi, Kerala about two years back!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a trifle after a half past 5. Had to be ready by a quarter to 7, as Anto came to pick me up to take me to the Perunthatta Shiva kshetram to offer 'bali tharpanam' for my Mom, on the occasion of her 6th Remembrance Day, by the Malayalam calendar.

Today was also Atham; another ten days to go for Onam.

Latha, the maid, comes for work.

Paritosh Nath and Joyce are reaching tomorrow for the darshan at Guruvayur temple.