Kochi P&T Apartment owners issue ultimatum threatening to lay siege to GCDA office over persistent leakage

Frustrated by the continuous leakage of their apartments since moving in two years ago, residents of the P&T Apartment Towers at Mundamveli in Kochi have issued an ultimatum threatening to lay siege to the office of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which commissioned the project.

The P&T Apartment Owners Association issued the ultimatum to the GCDA Secretary on Tuesday (May 19, 2026). Residents have been protesting against the persistent leakage since 78 families moved in in January 2024. They have also raised concerns about cracks and an alleged tilt in the buildings, issues that have largely gone unaddressed.

Cracks and bulging seen on the overhead water tank at the P&T Apartment complex in Mundamveli, Kochi. (File)
| Photo Credit:
THULASI KAKKAT

“We will be at the gate of the GCDA office if a drop of water falls on us in the next rain. We have had enough waiting for the benevolence of the authorities to resolve our hardships,” said Abhilash P. Parameswaran, president of the P&T Apartment Owners Association.

Bathroom leaks

After much delay, a pilot project was launched in April this year to plug bathroom leaks, as recommended by IIT Madras, which was appointed as a consultant to address structural flaws. Two coats of a leak-proof solution were applied to the floor of one apartment bathroom, which was then left flooded for about 10 days to test its effectiveness. “While it was found effective, residents protested against applying it to all the bathrooms at one go. Instead, they insisted that it be tried on a select few more to further convince them. We are now preparing an estimate along those lines,” said engineering sources with the GCDA.

Meanwhile, fibre plastering of the exterior of the twin towers, originally planned to plug leakage and estimated to cost ₹28 lakh, has been dropped. “The IIT Madras shot down the proposal and instead recommended another methodology focussing on joints, using a solution having leakage-prevention quality. However, residents opposed its implementation and insisted that the IIT Madras representatives convince them in a meeting. We have initiated file proceedings and preparation of an estimate, though implementation will depend on the outcome of such a meeting,” said sources.

Work on a proposed truss, complete with solar panels, funded through the local MLA’s development allocation, has also made little progress. An IIT Madras assessment report found that certain structural works did not conform to the Indian Standard Code IS 800:2007 governing steel constructions, and recommended strengthening to support the roof truss and solar panels. The report further warned that continuous exposure to moisture could lead to progressive corrosion and eventual loss of serviceability unless immediate waterproofing and corrosion-control measures were undertaken.