Kochi Families Await Key State Meeting After 100 Days of Protest

A high-level meeting is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, in Kochi to discuss the rehabilitation of 78 families living at the P&T Apartment Complex in Mundamveli, Ernakulam. These residents have completed 100 days of an indefinite protest over the slow pace of action on their permanent housing and compensation demands.

The Meeting

This upcoming discussion follows a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday between Kochi MLA Mohammed Shiyas, Minister for Local Self-Government K.M. Shaji, and P&T Apartment Protest Committee president Abhilash P. Parameswaran. During that meeting, Mr. Shiyas handed over a demand memo, and the Minister directed two department secretaries to find a solution, with the Minister himself expected to attend Saturday's session.

Demands And Options

The State government is currently weighing three options for the residents. However, the protest committee strongly insists that the government must buy land, build a brand-new housing project free from existing site problems, and hand it over directly to the beneficiaries. Protest leader Abhilash P. Parameswaran explained that the other choices, which include financial aid packages or partial support, could force families into fresh housing loans and heavy debt. Many residents already carry significant debts for healthcare and daily needs after spending two and a half difficult years living in the apartment complex.

Background And Concerns

A major worry for the residents is the presence of an extra high-tension 110 kV power line passing near the twin towers, with families raising concerns about suspected radiation. Additionally, the State government ordered a preliminary inquiry by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau led by DySP P. Rajkumar, following allegations of corruption in the building's construction. The Greater Cochin Development Authority originally built the complex using two four-storey towers at a cost of over 14.62 crore rupees to house 77 families who were displaced from a flood-prone colony in Gandhi Nagar, with funding supported by PMAY, the LIFE Mission, and Cochin Smart Mission Limited.

Context

Housing rehabilitation projects for displaced urban communities often face complex hurdles when initial construction sites run into environmental, safety, or structural challenges. When residents are moved to new locations that present unexpected safety worries like power line proximity, resolving the issue usually requires long-term administrative coordination between local authorities, state ministers, and affected families.