The demolition of a children’s park’s border wall and the allocation of a significant portion of the park for commercial use, according to the residents of Noida’s Sector 51, violated the terms of the lease deed and the National Green Tribunal’s guidelines, which forbid development work in the green belt. As a result, the residents launched a protest.
Officials explained that as part of the global investors’ summit, the private Japanese business is required to create a commercial complex in the region. The DMRC was granted a share of this project since it was urgently needed to develop the Sector 52 Metro station. The project is valued at ₹250 crore.
Residents of the Noida authority demanded that the works at the park stop because the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had previously received a large portion of the park from the Noida authority for the construction of a Metro station, and now another large portion has been allotted for commercial use, reducing the green belt area.
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The children’s park in Sector 51 has had its perimeter wall demolished, and a space around 15 meters wide has been commandeered for commercial use. A significant section of the park was donated to the DMRC for a Metro project after similar work was done a few years prior. According to Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Sector 51 and senior vice-president of the district development residents welfare association (DDRWA), the park area is steadily shrinking and the green belt area has all but disappeared.
“According to the NGT guidelines, no building is allowed in the green belt area; however, the authority is leasing the park area to a private company for commercial use, which is against the terms of the lease agreement,” Kumar stated.
Residents of Sector 51 alleged that they now hardly have any space left for recreational activity at the park.
It is really inconveniencing us because the park is under construction. A resident of Sector 51 named Manmohan Marwah stated, “There is a lot of dust flying around and the park is no longer suitable walks because construction material has been placed over a large portion of it.”
Noida authority officials informed that the project undertaken at the park is part of the global investors’ summit.
As part of the global investors’ summit, the private Japanese company is required to create a commercial complex in the vicinity, with an estimated cost of ₹250 crore. A portion was provided to the DMRC because it was urgently needed for the development of the Sector 52 Metro station. The public welfare is the reason behind these developmental projects, according to Anand Mohan, deputy director of horticulture at the Noida government.
“The space occupied for keeping construction material in the park is only temporary for the convenience of construction workers and the area will be freed up once the constriction is completed,” Mohan said.