Around the year 2006, one of the prominent builders, Omaxe, got land to construct residential society, The Forest, in Sector-92. 2008 onwards they inaugurated its allotment at a premium price to flat seekers. Finding its climatically serene and decent place, people invested their hard-earned money to have a peaceful life. The society was almost complete and grew. Over course of time with the idea of self governing as Resident Welfare Association, it was handed over by the builder to the RWA. Few value additions were done to make it a better livable place.
The ‘nightmare’ started in the comfortable lives of The Forest residents when they found one fine morning that Noida Authority (NA) is planning a Crematorium (Shamshaan Ghat) diagonally opposite to their towers, just at a distance of 100 meters.
During allotment/auction of plots all the parameters are well documented to the builder and the prospective buyers. There was no crematorium in any of the Master Plans of 2021 and 2031 of the NA. The entire area is shown as a green belt.
It was a shocking surprise for the residents as most of them came to settle here from various parts of country imposing their confidence in Noida, far from the maddening crowd to have a pollution-free environment. They felt cheated as this unilateral decision was taken without any notice or notification to them! Suddenly they found that fumes of smoke of few a quintals of wood (per body) entering their homes as a cruel injustice.
A horror story in actuality, what we have generally read as mere fiction!
Creation of a crematorium is an offence, against the norms of National Green Tribunal, so close to a residential society. It is physical and psychological torture. The Forest RWA submitted many representation to NA, but all in vain! They were pushed to the last corner of the wall to file a civil suit in the court of Civil Judge, Noida. On 24 May 2012, learned Judge passed a Status Quo. NA in vengeance created another crematorium, garbage dhalao as extension of earlier crematorium – one at Ilabaas and the recent one at Yakubpur, both 4 km apart. The locals prefer to bring dead bodies on their shoulders, as a ritual; so it should be close to their village?
Is it not gross contempt of Court?
The innocent residents of Sector-92 ask the following questions: • Has it ever been a part of any record except the NA? • Has NA ever notified such a change? • Is it not inhuman to force residents to live with such terror? • We talk a lot about the coming generation; will it not affect the children?
The blocks with plotted houses (kothies) of Sector 92 are also facing similar serious problem of an unauthorised Crematorium and temple next to their boundary wall. Soon sector people will have to live in the trespassed area. Will NA guarantee stoppage of these illegal occupations instead of adding insult to injury?
Sector wants NA to think with a clean, positive, progressive and purposeful attitude as Central and State governments have blessed this city with an international airport; so progress shall be unlimited and unstoppable!
It is such a vital subject of illegal act by the people in power of authority, which shall be covered as series in the coming columns of Samvada?
(Facts and inputs compiled by Kunwar K Vishal)
