KOCHI: It is learnt that Emerald hotel in Vytilla, which has been issued the shut down order by the corporation, will move the courts to get a stay.
Around 200 National Games athletes have been lodged in the hotel. If the court refuses to stay the order, the hotel will have to evacuate the athletes en-masse within the next three days.
The hotel was declared as an illegal construction by the council meeting of the civic body recently. The decision to book rooms for athletes in the hotel, ironically took by a sub committee led by Mayor Tony Chammany himself, received criticism from several quarters.
That the order was leaked to the press within few hours after it was signed by the corporation secretary has already kicked up a storm in the corporation headquarters. Following the developments, a council meeting slated for Friday was postponed indefinitely.
The postponement of council meeting is read by the opposition as an attempt of the ruling council to evade criticism. However, Mayor’s office said that the meeting was postponed as Chammany is down with fever and because Deputy Mayor Bhadra is out of station.