Is there high risk in high rise?
Recent order by the Allahabad High Court for the demolition of unauthorized construction in Noida could prove to be a tip of the iceberg as rampant illegal construction is being carried out in other Sectors too as claimed by the farmers’ body of the region. They said unauthorised structures have been raised by several builders flouting regulations in over dozen Sectors, including 74, 77, 116, 117, 112 and 113. The illegal construction is taking place on over 10 lakh square metres of land, as per a rough estimate, which is yet to be acquired by Noida Authority.
The farmers’ unions claimed that between 2005 and 2010 a majority of the projects, which were approved by the Authority, are illegal as they have not followed norms laid by the apex court and other departments. They alleged that construction work is being carried out on green belts, which come under the forest area. The Supreme Court, in its decision in 2002, has also ordered authorities not to permit construction work on such lands but extensive illegal construction is on large scale here. “Gram panchayats had given lands to Forest Department which cannot be acquired ever, to maintain green pockets. Besides green pockets the builders managed to get just little portion of lands but stretched construction activities in these pockets as well. They have even sold more than 75 per cent flats illegally in this region by telling half truths,” said Naresh Yadav, president, Land Management Committee (Noida).
Dushyant Nagar, convener, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (KSS), said they had earlier raised their voice against illegal activities by real estate firms but no action was uninitiated. To seek a stay on these projects now they have decided to move Supreme Court. “We have decided to restart our agitation as we have got a ray of hope from the recent order. The order of Allahabad High Court will strengthen our stand,” said Nagar.
Meanwhile, officials of Noida Authority said after talks with farmers they are in the process of acquiring land. “We had acquired lands earlier and are in dialogue with farmers again. Hopefully, we will make available land to builders as soon as possible,” said Manoj Rai, OSD, Noida Authority.
Source: Pioneer
Allahabad High Court, Apex court, Dushyant Nagar, Forest department, gram panchayats, Illegal Construction, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Land Management Committee, Management committee, Manoj Rai, Naresh Yadav, Noida, The Supreme Court
