NOIDA: The action that was reportedly taken byNoida Authority against
illegal farmhouses on theYamuna floodplains two months ago seems to be mere eyewash as
many more have mushroomed in the region. Sellers of illegal farmhouses and
plots, allegedly with 'strong links with senior ministers and officials of the
UP government', are reportedly involved in the illegal activity.
When TOI visited the site after two months of the authority's demolition drive, a shocking scenario awaited. During the drive, anti-encroachment teams had demolished a wall of a project named Buddha Garden. However, the wall has been re-constructed again.
Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate Kumar Ravikant Singh remained unavailable to comment on the issue. However, DIG (stamps) Vijay Deo Sharma said there was
no clarity on the law regarding such structures, so his department has to register such farms.
TOI also visited several sectors along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway that touch the Yamuna floodplains and found at least a dozen land mafias developing farms in the region. To dupe innocent investors, a 1,000 square yard plot is being sold at a cost of Rs 40 lakh, what a two-bedroom flat generally costs in high-rises in the area. At one of the farms, a swimming pool and other concrete construction has been done, while in another wooden rooms have been constructed.
"The nexus runs right from the top till the bottom. We 'facilitate' all people in the system. Without their 'blessings' we cannot run this business," said a farm seller on the condition of anonymity. He claimed that many of them have connections with not only the Authority chairman, but also with people who are close to UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.
The role of the registry department and electricity department has also come under suspicion. Even as the illegal farms continue to get themselves registered with the stamps department, officials cite lack of clarity to act against the land sharks. "In the absence of any law, we have no choice but to register the farmhouses," said the DIG (Stamps).
Earlier, following TOI reports, Noida Authority and its special team led by administrative officer Rajesh Prakash had demolished some structures in 34 villages from the clutches of land sharks. At that time tall claims were made by Noida Authority chairman and CEO Rama Raman to take stringent action against the people selling farms, but to no avail.
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