Even as residents around Sector 123 continue to protest, Authority says they are only following statutory orders
The issue of the construction of a dump yard at Sector 123 is gaining momentum as the Noida Authority and residents in and around the sector have been locked in a tussle since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) passed an interim order on May 29 allowing the construction of a new dumping yard in the sector. Following the NGT's order, which the Noida Authority started digging the land from June 1 onwards, leading to a severe resistance by the residents.
Ever since the orders have been passed, the residents from across the city have come together to make sure that the construction work does not go through while the Authority has deployed extra security and now the construction of the dump yard is on in full swing.
Residents have tried everything from silent protests to candle march, from knocking at all the doors of the officials to taking on Twitter, from burning effigies to hunger strikes, from pelting stones on the police party to getting lathi charged, from even getting washed away with water cannons to getting arrested but the administration is not willing to listen to them at any cost. Over the past two weeks, several leaders also joined the protesting residents.
"The construction of a dump yard near our houses will have an adverse effect on our health. This will also force the property rates in the area to go down. Most of the societies are at a distance of 175 m from the dump yard and according to the rules it should be at a minimum distance of 200 m and we will try our level best to stop it by resorting to peaceful protest. We did not demand anything wrong and will fight against the government and authorities till the decision of making a landfill in this site is not rolled back by the authority otherwise we will continue this protest. We will explore all the options available within the legal framework to stop this illegal work," said a protester.
According to the Masterplan-2031 of Noida, a recreational green area is proposed at the site where the authority is constructing a dump yard and the residents thus state that they won't let the authorities violate the rules.
According to the district magistrate, BN Singh, the law and order is their primary concern. He said that if the residents have an issue they should move the NGT or the court, but should not intervene in the work of the statutory body. However, the document shown by the residents clearly states that they can complain to the Authority if they feel that the site is not suitable.
ADMINISTRATION TURNS A DEAF EAR
Residents have tried everything from silent protests to candle march, from knocking at all doors of the officials to taking on Twitter, from burning effigies to hunger strikes, from even pelting stones on police party to getting lathi charged, but the administration is not willing to listen to them at any cost
VOICES
If the dump yard is made, our children's lives will come to an end eventually as the area will face the same crisis like the Ghazipur landfill. The city does not have proper roads, sewage or parking facilities and the Authority talks about the world-class technology.
—Ashish
Our brothers are fighting for the rights from inside the jail. We want everyone who is inside the jail to be freed without any charges and we will continue the protests till our demands are met.
—Jaiveer Pradhan
The authorities have never cared about poor people like us and will not in the future as well. But this time, if they become successful in making this dump yard, my family will have no other place to go to and we will be the worst sufferers as we stay adjacent to this place.
—Shamsher Singh
The Authority has an option to develop the waste-to-energy plant in Astoli in Greater Noida where there is a 110-acre plot, in order to avoid such protest of residents. The authority has hidden some fact in order to get the land sanctioned for this construction.
—Dinesh
This step by the Authority is a planned Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which will result in mass killings. We are taxpayers and can't fight the system but the BJP government will lose majority votes from these areas if the step is not taken back.
—Dharmesh Patel
We have called for a "Noida Bandh" as a protest against landfill on the coming Friday. Political parties and other groups have agreed over "Noida Bandh." The residents will be carrying out protests against landfill at different places in the city in order to awake them.
—Shekhar Dhar
EXPERT SPEAK
My concern is the government image and the residents should not intervene in the working of the statutory bodies. The residents should maintain law and order and peace in the city and if they want action they should move to the court.
B N Singh, District Magistrate
Local leaders are spreading rumours among the residents. We are using world-class technology to make this dump yard and no other city in Uttar Pradesh is as clean as Noida, so the residents should stop the baseless protests. We are not doing anything illegal, we are just following the orders.
RS Yadav, Senior Project Engineer, Noida Authority
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