A most unique feature of our dwelling is the openness we have on either side, with independent houses in the front and the serene premises of the Ashram on the other. The vast expanse of land on two and half sides of Hamlet under the possession of the Maharishi Ashram area has meant a view of trees, peacocks, other birds, and tranquillity!
More importantly, it also means that both Gates 1 and 2 are almost guaranteed to have a lot of quiet and privacy for us Hamlet residents.
A couple of years ago, in October, one suddenly noticed that beyond Gate 2, there was unusual amount of activity, which culminated in quite a few trees being felled because a Sarva-Shanti Yagna was in progress, which also involved building a Dwar or gate, to make the area more accessible.
We now see a Lakshminarayan Mandir coming up there. Good, said a few residents…
Late last year, this time at Gate 1, we saw some more activity, and another gate being built… In front of the wall before which we have our parking! This was certainly more concerning! Some members of the AOA investigated and found out that the Maharishi Ashram people had begun selling plots of land with the guise that there will be accessibility both from their main entrance and also from the exits that they were building around Hamlet!
Certainly illegal ‘grounds’!
A complaint was raised to NOIDA Authority’s CEO, Lokesh M, who acted swiftly and gave us sound evidence that this development was illegal, primarily because the roads leading up to Gate 1 and gate 2 belonged to NOIDA Authority, plus the Ashram could not build a gateway anywhere as AOH falls under Sector 104 while the Ashram falls under Sector 110, so the twain cannot be connected.
Moreover, it was illegal to fell so many trees in the area, causing tremendous loss to the fauna and flora in the area. Thanks to Lokesh M’s swift action, the wall, which was being dismantled in the guise of this new development, was rebuilt in four days!
All of us can collectively breathe a sigh of relief!
Of course, there will be stronger legal recourses to prevent another such attempt in the future, but in the interim, much gratitude to NOIDA Authority for their support, and especially ensuring the safety and security of our beloved denizens!
