On March 3, Noida Authority sent a notice warning residents of Sector 21 that strict action would be taken against any encroachment in the sector.
"If encroachments are not removed on their own by the residents, the Authority will be forced to act," said SC Mishra, project engineer of Noida Authority.
The notice comes close on the heels of a City Spidey report published on March 2, about a complaint made by Monica Singh, a resident of Sector 21.
Singh had complained to the city's top authorities about the uprooting of a neem tree she had planted 30 years ago in a common green area. The area was encroached upon by her neighbour in connivance with the RWA and Forest Department officials, and the tree felled soon after.
Singh finds some solace in the Authority's notice. "My tree cannot be brought back to life. But I am glad the Authority took this step. This will ensure no more trees are felled."
The City Spidey team decided to visit the sector. Most of the ground-floor houses had encroached upon the adjacent green areas. The green areas were fenced and converted into personal gardens and lawns. Not a single house in Sector 21 sought permission from Noida Authority before this encroachment.
Ajay Goyal, secretary of Sector 21 RWA, accepted that a notice to this effect had been received. "I appreciate the Authority's move. However, the RWA will not remove encroachments on its own. It will leave it to Noida Authority," he said.
Hope Noida Authority sticks to its word and no more trees are harmed.
