Anti-dump site protest: Villagers boycott meeting with Noida DM

NOIDA: A meeting called by district magistrate B N Singh in the presence of authority officials and SSP Ajay Pal Sharma to address issues of those arrested on Monday June 4 while protesting against the sector 123 dump site was boycotted by villagers of Parthala, Garhi Chaukhandi, Sorkha, Sarfabad, Behlolpur and more.
Villagers under newly formed "Kooda Ghar Virodh Sangharsh Samiti" gathered at Parthala community centre early Thursday morning and decided to boycott the meeting with DM saying they have not received the DM's letter and further maintained that they will not sign any letter which prohibits them to stop their protest against sector 123 dump site. They are willing to let their kin remain in jail saying they are strong to withhold the fight.

"We have boycotted the meeting with DM today as we intend to carry out peaceful protest against the sector 123 dump site,” Subey Yadav from village Parthala told TOI at the community centre meeting.

Jaiveer Yadav from village Behlolpur near FNG corridor added that they will continue their protest despite their kin languishing in jail. “My younger brother Omveer is in jail as he was arrested on Monday. I draw strength from him when he told me not to give-in by signing any letter of consent against holding protest against the dump site. If he can remain in jail and go on hunger strike for wrongful detention, we will definitely not let him down. Besides its matter of our daily life getting affected if this dump site comes up. We will not let that happen,” said Yadav.

District Magistrate B N Singh said that he had called a meeting with the residents, but they did not turn up. “A group of residents had protested against the development work, which is in accordance with the NGT order. We decided to call a meeting and discuss the issue. They did not come for the meeting. We will make sure the development work is peaceful and no one takes law and order in their own hands,” he said.


Udal Yadav who helmed the panchayat at Parthala community centre on Thursday maintained that the protest will continue till the dumping ground work is stopped and their kin are released unconditionally from jail.

Meanwhile residents of high rise apartments planned to continue their evening protest after they return from work and will also proceed with signature campaign to send to MLA Pankaj Singh as asked by him to put forward to MP Mahesh Sharma and other authorities. “We have been asked to collect signatures against the dump site by MLA Pankaj Sharma who has promised to take it up with higher officials and party leaders like MP Mahesh Sharma,” said Amarjeet Rathore from Gaur city, Noida extension.

Anoopam Oberoi from Homes 121 also maintained no protest at the dump site on Thursday till the residents’ collective finalise the plan on how to take their protest forward in a more organised and coherent way to have lasting impact.

Meanwhile residents from Gaur city in Noida extension proceeded with 'thali bajao, sarkar jagao' (wake the government by kitchen utensils) campaign late Thursday evening. "In continuation to our protest against the construction of garbage dumpyard at sector 123 (which is just around 2 km from Kisaan chowk) we assembled at 9:00 pm near main gate of Gaur City and proceeded with our peaceful protest from Gaur City gate to Kisaan Chowk. The theme of today’s protest is awaken the sleeping government and Noida Authority. For this we asked residents to bring kitchen utensils such as plates, spoons or puja bells," said Amarjeet Rathore resident of Gaur City in Noida extension.

(with inputs from Shafaque Alam)