KOCHI: The evacuation of residents from the Maradu flats constructed violating coastal zone regulations has started. The residents have been asked to evacuate on their own and will not be forcefully evicted, informed For Kochi sub collector Snehil Kumar Singh. The procedures will be completed in a timely manner, he said.

The procedures ahead of the eviction is in progress. The procedures are taken in Jain Housing, Alfa Ventures and Golden Kayaloram and will continue till October 4. Meantime, the hunger strike of the flat owners seeking more time to evacuate has started. They will hold talks with the collector this afternoon. M Swaraj MLA will attend the meet.

As there are chances for a protest against the officials, security has been beefed up in the area. The municipality secretary has asked the residents to cooperate with the eviction process.

The Supreme Court had attached the properties and accounts of builders--Paul Raj (director, Alfa Ventures), Sany Francis (MD, Holy Faith), Sandeep Malik (MD, Jain Housing) and K V Jose (MD, K P Varkey Builders).

The apex court had the other day appointed a panel led by retired High Court justice K Balakrishnan Nair to oversee the payment of compensation to the flat owerns. The court has asked to decide the actual compensation to be given to the flat owner in four weeks after fixing the price of the flats. Justices Arun Mishara, S Raveendra Bhat had ordered the government to pay Rs 25 lakhs to the owners as temporary relief and asked them to recover it from the builders and officials responsible for raising the construction.