kochi the supreme courts firm stand on its order to demolish the four apartment complexes constructed along the backwaters has trounced the hopes of the people living on the islands in the citys suburbs while the crz norms and court orders make it more difficult for builders to plan projects on islands local residents and legal experts are of the view that the recent sc order can derail the confidence of buyersadvocate sherry j thomas who keeps track of crz norms and regulations said neither the goshree islands development authoritys plans nor the ring road project to develop the island took off the kochi water metro project is being viewed as a ray of hope local residents want development and better use of land however the possibilities of real estate development will largely depend on the impact of recent sc ordersebenezer chullikkad a representative of the greater cochin development watch said buyers would be cautious while planning projects development on waterfront and islands can be taken up once there is more clarity on the new crz norms realty developers will consider such aspects after the publication of crz management plans as of now crz notification 2011 is applicable he saidchullikkad said construction of apartment complexes would be difficult on the islands he said builders have already brought property wherever development is possiblemeanwhile though it is permissible to construct individual houses which have an area of 100 square metres in crz areas government has imposed strict regulations the maximum height of the buildings should be nine metres those buying land and planning the construction should be local inhabitants this make it really impossible for outsiders to buy land and construct villas here he saidmulavukadu pizhala kothadu cheriyakadamukkudi valiyakadamakkudi vypin and varapuzha are the main areas surrounded by waterbodies according to local people lack of basic infrastructure is another hindrance in the way of development of islands though the kochis backwaters continue to be an attraction drinking water is a major concern on the islands there are no hospitals or water ambulance the construction of bridges linking islands have not been completed said thomas