Record holder Sarvathe to overlook Kochi flat demolition
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Kochi: The state government has hired explosion expert engineer and Guinnes record holder, SB Sarvathe to supervise the demolition of the flat complexes in Maradu.
Sarwate is a mining engineer from Indore in Bhopal, who specialises in demolition and controlled explosions. He holds the Guinness World Record for demolishing the maximum number of buildings and has joined the state government as a consultant for the obliteration of the four flats.
Sarwate will arrive in Kochi on Thursday and will assess the methodology presented by the shortlisted firms, after visiting the site.
The mining engineer, who holds record for conducting the most number of controlled implosions in India in 2003, will meet the representatives of the firms to check their background and experience in the field and the methodology of implosion to be followed, besides holding talks with top officials.
Sarwate is specialized in dimensional stone mining, controlled blasting and implosion of buildings using explosives.
He is serving as consultant to Vijaya Stones Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, and Uttam Blastech Hyderabad. He is also the secretary of Indore Chapter of the Institution of Engineers.
Residents of the four flat complexes vacated their flats recently after it became clear that the state government has no other option than complying with the Supreme Court order.
The apex court had, on September 6, ordered the demolition of the complex by September 20 for violating the Coastal Regulation Zone rules.
The Supreme Court, when it gave the directive for eviction, had asked to set up a three-member committee, headed by retired Kerala High Court Judge K. Balakrishnan Nair, to see to the distribution of compensation and also the steps for demolition.
