Noida authority plans drone survey to tackle illegal constructions on floodplains

                Noida: Farmhouses, roads and other 
constructions that have cropped up on the 
floodplains of Hindon and Yamuna will be 
razed by Noida Authority after a drone survey. 
Officials said 
boards will be put up to warn people not to 
build, buy or sell properties on the banks of the 
two rivers.At a meeting chaired by Noida 
Authority CEO Lokesh M, a slew of measures 
was 
announced to tackle illegal farmhouses and 
unauthorised constructions mushrooming in 
the Hindon-Yamuna floodplains.

The CEO directed officials to hold a drone 
survey of the notified floodplain zone of the 
two rivers to record the present status of 
constructions. For any new illegal activity 
detected 
thereafter, departmental action would be 
initiated against the Authority's senior 
managers and lekhpals and executive 
engineers of the irrigation department, he said.
"We will not tolerate unauthorised construction 
in the floodplain. Accountability will be fixed on 
officials who fail to act," the CEO said, adding 
that steps are being taken to hold errant 
developers and facilitators responsible. He 
directed the irrigation department to demolish 
all roads constructed up to farmhouses 
without permission.Officials said that to 
ensure 
coordinated enforcement, a multi-
departmental task force will be set up under 
the SDM Dadri or Sadar, to identify illegal 
structures, initiate demolition proceedings and 
submit periodic 
reviews.The Authority also plans to identify 
builders or people who develop colonies and 
sell farmhouses illegally on the floodplains and 
declare them land mafia.The stamp and 
registration department has been asked to 
share data on registered sale deeds in the 
floodplain area too. "All new property deeds 
must clearly mention that construction is not 
permitted 
in floodplains. This will prevent buyers from 
being duped," a senior official said.The 
crackdown comes as a pre-emptive response 
ahead of the monsoon. The irrigation 
department 
warned that any damage caused by floods to 
unauthorised structures in the floodplain will 
be the responsibility of the violators 
themselves."If illegal houses or buildings near 
the Hindon 
bund or Yamuna are washed away during 
floods, the govt will not offer any 
compensation," an official said.An advisory has 
been issued urging people to vacate and 
remove illegal 
constructions immediately.The department 
also highlighted the inherent dangers of 
setting up infrastructure like schools, 
farmhouses, crusher units, and ready-mix 
concrete plants in the 
floodplains. "Such areas cannot be secured 
during floods. Any loss of life or property will 
be irreversible," officials added.


Source : Times of India