Noida: Some RWAs have started asking people in housing societies about their recent travel details, a throwback to the peak months of the pandemic in 2020 when such surveillance raised questions on privacy and the scope of a residents’ association’s functions.
Officials have assured they will remain ‘non-intrusive’ in nature but that ultimately depends on questions RWAs ask.
District magistrate Suhas LY said, “There are no interstate trains or buses that come directly to the city that we can check for travellers. The airport has details of travellers, but they go to various cities like Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida. It’s difficult to keep track of who went where. We also can’t monitor all road travellers. We need to also remain non-intrusive and will try and get details through our surveillance teams.”
“I saw a message on the Nigrani Samiti group, but there is no official communication. I’ll put a message in my society group, asking people to voluntarily share details,” said Amit Gupta, AOA president of Prateek Wisteria in Sector 77.
Rajesh Sahay, secretary general of Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Association (NOFAA) said they had no information about any such monitoring.
Federation of Noida RWAs (FONRWA) president Yogendra Sharma, while he had heard about Nigrani Samitis being reactivated, there was no information.
Residents said they would not want to divulge personal travel details with RWAs and or any other groups. “Even if it is voluntary, why should I share personal details with anyone? I would also not feel safe if my travel information is with other people who may misuse it,” said Sonali Singh, a resident of Golf City in Sector 75.
Officials said since it is unclear how traveller details will be available, no official communication had been sent to RWAs yet. Some surveillance teams have been going door to door, asking people about recent travel history.