Noida authority to issue notices to 250 farmhouses on Yamuna floodplains

                Noida: Noida Authority will issue fresh notices 
to nearly 250 farmhouse owners for 
permanent construction in the Yamuna 
floodplains, where only farming is allowed. 
Officials said while 
buying and selling land in this area is not 
illegal, using the land for anything other than 
agriculture — like building farmhouses or 
permanent constructions — is prohibited.The 
Authority has 
demolished around 200 such farmhouses 
since May 2022.However, many owners went 
to Allahabad high court and managed to get 
stay orders, which stalled the action 
temporarily. But now, 
the Authority is once again planning a large-
scale campaign against illegal constructions in 
the floodplain.At a recent review meeting, 
Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M said that aerial 
surveys 
have already begun across the Yamuna and 
Hindon floodplains. He warned if newillegal 
constructionis found after the survey, officials 
from the Authority and the irrigation 
department would 
be held accountable.

He also ordered that large hoardings be put up 
in these areas to warn the public that buying 
land or constructing buildings in these zones is 
illegal.An Authority official said, "The first 
round of 
notices will be based on data collected through 
aerial mapping. Drones are currently being 
used to capture the locations and extent of 
construction across the floodplain 
zones.""These 
surveys will also help identify which 
farmhouses are being used for commercial 
purposes. Police already conducted raids in 
several such places in the past," the official 
said. Yamuna River 
flows through several Noida sectors such as 
94, 124, 125, 127, 128, 131, 133, 134, 135, 150 
and 168. Hindon River passes through areas 
like Chhijarsi, Shahdara, Suthiana, Garhi 
Chowkhandi, sectors 123, 118, 115, 143, 143A, 
148, 150 and Momnathal before merging with 
the Yamuna near Sector 63A and Behlolpur. 
These floodplain areas are marked as 
"submerged 
zones", where any form of construction is 
banned.While there's currently no plan to 
demolish old illegal structures built near the 
Hindon floodplain, officials made it clear that 
no new 
construction will be allowed. If any such 
activity is found, strict action will be taken 
against the responsible officers. A separate 
team, led by the sub-divisional magistrate, has 
been formed to 
monitor and act in the Hindon region. Some of 
the existing farmhouses in Hindon may also 
face demolition in the next phase of the 
campaign.To address the issue of 
unauthorised 
constructions, the Noida Authority issued a 
public notice in June 2022, prohibiting any 
construction in the floodplain zone of Yamuna 
and Hindon rivers within its jurisdiction. The 
Authority 
also warned that it would recover the costs of 
the demolition drive from the owners of the 
illegal farmhouses.


Source : Times of India