Blatant encroachment has resulted in almost 30 per cent of the vacant land being usurped by the land mafia in Noida. The brazenness of the encroachers could be judged by the fact that they have encroached upon the beds of Hindon and Yamuna rivers, green lands and even water bodies have not been spared. First, the suspension of SDM Durga Shakti Nagpal and unceremonial transfer and then a murderous attack on another SDM in a village in Noida, has terrorised the district bureaucracy. And the patronising attitude of the State Government has further emboldened the land mafia and helpless authorities have been forced to follow the diktats of local leaders.
The complaints pertaining to encroachment of public land by land sharks have increased in last four weeks as officials of district administration and Noida Authority were away on polling elections in other part of Uttar Pradesh. Sources said that taking advantage of the situations, a clique of small time colonisers, farmers, local henchmen and property dealers have taken 10-15 per cent vacant land that belongs to Noida Authority located in the vicinity of Yamuna Expressway and in the riverbed (Hindon and Yamuna) region.
Rampant encroachment on notified and other type of lands can easily be seen in various parts of the region which reveals the audacious act of encroachers who are not just occupying the land but are selling them to others by categorising colonies also. They have made hundreds of small and big houses, hundreds of farm houses, shops, go-downs and storage places under very nose of the local authorities. Flood plains of Yamuna and Hindon rivers, vicinity of Okhla Bird Sanctuary and other green belts, sectors
along Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, gram sabha lands of dozens of villages are affected as massive encroachments have taken place on these lands. Even in some areas, farmers who have sold their lands to authority, have not vacated the land as they enjoy support of the local leaders.
The environmentalists blame the inaction of the local authorities for the land grabbing which is destroying the ecology of the whole region. The area, a natural habitat of animals and migratory birds, is loosing its natural identity due to massive illegal construction especially in prohibited zones. Even the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the authorities for the fiasco but no concrete action has been initiated yet against unlawful tenant. “As huge chunk of protected and prohibited land is vacated across the region, unlawful activities of brazen mafia are on high these days. They are ruining the land for personal benefit while authorities are silent,” said Vikrant Tongad, a Noida-based
environmental activist.
Ashok Khemka, a senior lawyer of NGT, says that the tribunal has criticised the district authorities several times for their failure to stop illegal construction across riverbed and sanctuary area but still there are rampant construction. “The colonisers, in complicity with authorities and local police, are constructing colonies without any fear. They have also moved towards residential sectors of the city which is a serious concern. In future, it will pose a major challenge for administration to reclaim the land from illegal possession,” said Khemka.