People from the villages surrounding Noida are now wanting to be seen and heard as far as civic issues and decisions are concerned.
This picture has been used for representational purposes only
The city of Noida is witnessing a dispute of sorts between the urban and rural division of its population. The tussle is between residents of posh high rise societies of Sector 45 and the people living in the surrounding villages namely Chalera and Sadarpur.
The bone of contention is over a patch of land measuring almost ten acres, which was earmarked for community welfare activities. While the residents of the high rise gated societies of Sector 45 are demanding that a yoga park be made on this site, the adjoining village community is pressing for a Baraat Ghar to be constructed here for marriage and other social functions.
This posh sector boasts of upscale societies like the NRI Residency, Prateek Stylome and Amrapali Sapphire, which house more than 20,000 residents. According to these residents, construction of a Baraat Ghar will translate to a permanent nuisance in this area. They are apprehensive of loud and blaring music. Moreover, they say that the Baraat Ghar will witness frequent firing of gunshots as celebratory firing is a common phenomenon amongst the villagers of Chalera and Sadarpur.
Rashesh Purohit, a resident of NRI Residency and also the founder member of the NCR Homebuyers' Association told City Spidey that in the master plans of 2021 and 2031 for Noida, there is no provision whatsoever for a dedicated park for residents of Sector 45.
He also said that residents of high rise gated societies propose that instead of constructing a Baraat Ghar here, the Noida Authority should develop this land as an exclusive yoga park. "In fact, the Government of India has planned to open more than 100 parks dedicated to yoga with the help of Ministry of Ayush. We also wrote several letters to officials of the Noida Authority and are going to meet the CEO of Noida Authority, Alok Tandon on March 8, to press for a yoga park instead of a Baraat Ghar,” Purohit added.
According to an official of Noida Authority, the land left vacant had been earmarked for community welfare activity and there is a long pending demand from the villagers for construction of a Baraat Ghar here. And after many meetings between officials of Noida Authority and villagers, it was decided in principle that a Baraat Ghar would be constructed here.
When City Spidey contacted Omvir Singh, director of horticulture of Noida Authority, he denied receiving a single letter from the residents of high rise societies in which they have made a demand for a yoga park.
Till the time the Noida Authority takes a call on whether to go ahead with a Baraat Ghar or a yoga park on this chunk of land, the rural versus the urban divide in the city continues!
