NOIDA: Residents of Sector 51 are finding themselves unable to get the attention of the authorities on the problem of encroachment on vacant plots of the sector by local villagers. Despite the Allahabad high court ordering the removal of the illegal structures in 2015, the residents say squatters are increasing with each passing day.
“Make-shift structures have popped up near the VDS (village development scheme) market due to upcoming metro station. We’ve requested senior officials of Noida Authority to look into the matter and remove the said encroachments, mostly by residents of adjacent Hoshiyarpur village, immediately,” RWA secretary Sanjeev Kumar told TOI.
Despite the residents filing a public interest litigation in Allahabad HC in 2015 and the court ordering authorities to remove the squatters, nothing has changed on the ground. Residents say they have also urged the local police station to secure the sector from local villagers.
According to Kumar, villagers have already constructed a number of make-shift structures on the vacant plots and areas earmarked for road. “Some of these squatters have managed to construct cow sheds on the vacant plots,” he added.
On Friday, Sector RWA spotted some villagers connecting unauthorised sewer lines on a vacant plot in the sector. Ashok Khari, another resident, said, “Illegal construction is rampant on Noida Authority land.”
“We request all — Noida Authority, the police and the district magistrate — to implement the Allahabad high court order which prohibits any further encroachment or construction in the area,” added Kumar.
When contacted, Subhash Chandra, junior engineer of Noida Authority’s work circle 3 initially claimed no knowledge of the encroachment but later assured action when given details. “We will inspect the area and take necessary action to stop encroachments,” he added.
Authority supervisor Ashish Kumar subsequently visited the sector and said they had stopped the unauthorised sewer line connection work in the sector. “The area will be monitored regularly,” he added.