Greater Noida West : In a city where residents have spent lakhs on luxury apartments, the very air they breathe and water they drink is turning hazardous. Greater Noida West is now facing an alarming environmental and health crisis, leaving its residents frustrated, sick, and unheard.
Poison in the Air
Thick clouds of dust have become a permanent part of daily life in several sectors of Greater Noida West. Cracked and broken roads, unregulated construction activity and open garbage dumping have choked the region’s air quality. Localities near popular housing societies such as Arihant Ambar and Ajnara Homes are especially affected, where even a brief walk outside means inhaling clouds of dust and debris.
We paid crores for our homes, not to live in gas chamber.
Resident, Arihant Amber
With each passing day, families, including children and the elderly, report respiratory issues and eye irritation. Despite the severity, authorities have shown little urgency in resolving the problem.
Lax enforcement, No relief
While the Greater Noida Authority claims action is being taken under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), residents say it’s merely on paper. According to official data, fines of ₹9.5 lakh have been levied on violators in Greater Noida, and ₹10 lakh in neighbouring Ghaziabad. But violations continue with impunity.
Contractors leave construction material uncovered. Roads damaged during utility work are left unrestored. Even basic dust control measures, such as water sprinkling, are often missing in most areas. For residents, the message is clear: “You are not breathing air, but poison.”
Contaminated water adds to woes
As if the air wasn’t toxic enough, contaminated water has already caused a public health crisis earlier this year. In April, over 200 residents of Ajnara Homes (Sector 16B) fell ill, complaining of stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea—after consuming drinking water from society tanks. The Greater Noida Authority later found the underground water tanks to be poorly maintained and imposed a ₹25 lakh fine on the builder. Shockingly, it also revealed that the society owed over ₹2.5 crore in unpaid water bills.
Following the incident, GNIDA began a city-wide cleaning drive of underground water reservoirs, beginning May 9. The phased operation spanned several weeks and was aimed at preventing further contamination. Still, residents question why such basic maintenance had to wait for a crisis.
The Bigger Picture: Broken Infrastructure
- Frequent sewage overflows
- Poor road maintenance
- Unreliable utility services
- Several roads remain flooded due to clogged drainage
- Collapsed sewer lines
From lift breakdowns in high-rises to foul-smelling water from taps, the dream of modern urban living is crumbling—quite literally. Civil society groups and local RWA members have repeatedly petitioned the authority, but with little to show in return.
Luxury Flats, Toxic Reality
What was once advertised as a modern satellite city is fast turning into an environmental hazard zone. Residents who invested their savings for a better life now find themselves trapped—fighting for clean air, safe water, and basic human dignity.
Unless authorities act decisively—and builders are held accountable—Greater Noida West risks becoming a cautionary tale of unchecked urbanization and failed governance.