Govt orders demolition of Bar owner's building on canal

The Kerala government today ordered demolition of a five-storey building owned by State Bar Owners Association's Working President Biju Ramesh, built allegedly by encroaching on a major canal in the city.
The order by the Additional District Magistrate, who is also District Disaster Management Authority, asked Biju Ramesh to take steps to bring down the structure on Thekkanakkara canal in 15 days as part of steps under 'Operation Anantha' to control frequent flooding of state capital.
The order said the Authority would initiate steps on the matter if Ramesh failed to do so.
Biju Ramesh is the bar owner who levelled bribe charges against Finance Minister K M Mani in the bar bribery scam.

The District administration had already evicted a large number of encroachments on major canals within city limits after 'Operation Anantha' was launched two months back.
The order to demolish the building was part of a drive to remove encroachments on the canal, which is crucial for flow of flood water from East Fort to Parvathy Puthanar.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson today took stock of the progress of 'Operation Ananta'. He visited various parts of the city, where work is progressing under anti-flood programme.