HC declines to stay construction work of metro at Apollo land

The Kerala High court today declined to stay the construction works being carried out by Kochi Metro Rail Corporation on a portion of the land of Apollo Tyres Ltd at nearby Kalamassery.
The tyre major had approached the court seeking a stay on the work following non-payment of compensation to it.
In the petition filed by Premeir Tyres Ltd Enterprises, which was takenover by Apollo, it was submitted that despite direction of the Ernakulam District Collector to pay a compensation of Rs 23.25 crore for acquiring 62 ares, no compensation had been paid to the company till now.
Justice V Chidambaresh ordered issue of a notice to Kochi Metro Rail Corporation and other respondents.

According to the petitioner, even though the District Collector recommended payment of compensation, the Finance department had refused clearance.
Kochi Metro had sent a letter to the Finance Department on September 21 last year, opposing the move to pay the compensation saying the land was assigned to PTL in 1962 by the government at a nominal rate and hence Apollo tyres was ineligible for a compensation based on market value.
KMRL has already begun constructing a parking lot for the metro station against which the petitioner moved the court seeking to stop work and award compensation.