Land worth `2.5 cr freed along Hindon

In a drive against land grabbers in the city, Noida Authority removed massive encroachment along the Hindon on Sunday. The officials claimed to have freed nearly five lakh square metre land worth over Rs 2.5 crore from the squatters including small time builders who have illegally erected colonies along the river bed. 

On Saturday, the authority had removed encroachment from nearly two lakh square metre land worth Rs 2 crore in the same area. The officials also claimed the drive will be continued in the coming days as major chunks of land have been usurped by land sharks. 

Following the direction of Noida Authority chairman and CEO Rama Raman, the drive was conducted in the flood plains of the river along with Noida-Greater Noida West road. The sectors covered were 140A, 143, 144 and 150 as well as Lakhnawali, Shahdra, Suthiana and other villages too. The authority officials said that early morning a joint team of Noida police and Noida Authority officials conducted the drive and hundreds of illegal establishments were razed, hoarding, banners offering sale of land were also removed by the team despite objections from the errant encroaches. It may be noted that after media reports, the chairman had reiterated that the authority will come down heavily on land mafias who have not only grabbed the government’s lands illegally but are selling them out by hiding important facts. 

The CEO had also warned to initiate penal action against the squatters with the help of law enforcement agency. 

‘We have been conducting anti-encroachment drives continuously and in the past one year we have freed a huge portion of acquired land. If nefarious trade of illegal encroaches continues, we would intensify our drive in the near future,’ he had mentioned in a press statement.