Noida to develop Yamuna riverfront, 317 farmhouses may face demolition

The fate of 317 swanky farmhouses on 5,000-acre Yamuna floodplains hangs in the balance as the Noida authority had appointed a consultant to form a river-front development policy.

Though the case is still in court, a green signal for the project will pose a challenging task for the Uttar Pradesh irrigation department and Noida authority to demolish the farmhouses that belong to influential people such as senior police officers, lawyers, retired judges and bureaucrats.

“Our consultant will draft a policy on how to develop the riverfront to contain unauthorised structures that disturb the Yamuna’s natural flow. As far as farmhouse demolition is concerned, it will be decided by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that is hearing a petition that seeks removal of all kinds of illegal structures built over the flood-plain zones of Hindon and Yamuna rivers,” said Saumya Srivastav, deputy chief executive officer, Noida authority.

In 2013, environmentalist Akash Vashistha filed a petition in the green court, seeking protection of flood plains. Following this, Uttar Pradesh agencies directed local officials to clear illegal structures. Noida authority also issued notice to nearly 317 farmhouse owners to either vacate or face demolition. However, many developers continue selling plots on the floodplains.

“If the Noida authority is determined then it can raze all illegal structures. These farmhouses will have to go because the NGT wants to protect the dying river from pollution,” said Amit Khemka, a senior lawyer representing the petitioner.

Meanwhile, farmhouse owners claim their structures are legit because they were built before the authority defined the floodplains as a ‘no construction’ zone.