GREATER NOIDA: Three months after nearly 300
water meters were found stacked in a room owned by the
Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority in Sector Alfa -1, officials are still clueless on who purchased the meters and why these were kept in the room. The meters were found during a routine anti-encroachment drive in June. No one has a record of these meters or any idea whether these were purchased to fulfil an order.
According to sources, the meters were purchased but were never fixed in houses, indicating that it could be a case of malpractice. An official in GNIDA’s urban service department said that in June he received information about encroachment on its campus near an overhead tank near Golf Course. A team arrived on the spot and several unauthorised structures were pulled down.
“During the drive, we found a room in the area locked. The workers said some
water supply materials were inside the room. We called police and opened the lock. We found a large number of water meters stuffed inside. Though we questioned the workers, no one could give specific answers about its source, sanction, and use,” said an official. Vibha Chahal, the then OSD, GNIDA, formed a four-member committee and launched an investigation into the matter. However, Chahal was transferred to the office of agriculture production commissioner, Lucknow in July 2018.
Sachin Kumar, the new OSD in GNIDA, said he has taken over a few days ago. “I have come to know about the matter and have sought files. The committee has been directed to expedite the investigation and submit a report,” he said. A source said the room was lying locked since 2006-07. There could be 300 to 400 water meters inside the room. Some of them would have become obsolete over time.
