Noida Authority's decision to cut down nearly six dozen trees inside the Noida Stadium for redeveloping the facility has annoyed the residents of nearby sectors. They have alleged the authority for destroying green belt area of the stadium in the name of redevelopment. As most part of the stadium falls under green area, residents of Sector 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and others, especially senior citizens come to the stadium for morning and evening walk.
The matter came to light a few days ago when the morning walkers noticed a red mark on 67 trees. While contacting the stadium management, it was revealed that Noida Authority had ordered to cut these well-grown trees, marked with red colour, for building cricket infrastructure. Against the move of the Noida Authority, a delegation of local residents approached the district administration, the pollution department as well as the forest department. The delegation also warned to move National Green Tribunal (NGT), if Noida Authority does not take its decision back.
According to the local people, when the construction work resumed one year ago, the then CEO of Noida authority had assured them to protect over 125 large plants coming on the site of cricket stadium. "As we had earlier assured by the competent authority, we were totally shocked with the recent decision that has put the future of these trees in a limbo. It is also painful that the District Forest Department had given permission to Noida Authority without observing the ground reality. The officials' argument to plant nearly 350 trees, instead of the existing trees, is totally baseless as the stadium is already facing space crunch due to newly constructed cycle track and other infrastructures," said Manoj Kumar, an environmental activist living in Sector 12.
"Though we have been granted permission from the forest department on certain conditions, we are also considering issues raised by the residents in this regard and if required we will take every possible step to protect the existing trees," said PK Agarwal, Additional CEO of Noida Authority.