Builders allotted grazing land

NOIDA: In response to an RTI, Noida Authority has replied that a large portion of grazing and forest land has been allotted to several developers in Noida. Construction is being carried out on these lands in various sectors, including 117, 113, 79, 77 and 79.
The Supreme Court in January 2011 had banned diversion of grazing land and forest land for commercial purpose and had also ordered that the government must provide compensation if any pasture area was used for urgent community needs like hospitals and schools.
A Noida resident, Gopal Saxena, had filed an RTI with Noida Authority seeking details of land used for commercial purposes in sectors 113, 117, 74 and 79. Replying to this, the Authority revealed that there is 19,470 sq metres, 54,260 sq metres, 19,470 sq metres forest land respectively in sectors 113, 117 and 79. They had earlier stated that about 1,40,000 sq metres of grazing land in Sector 77 had been allotted to seven realtors, who have been developing group housings projects on the land.
However, developers' claim that the grazing lands have either been used for development of roads or greenbelts around their projects. The applicant has demanded a detailed probe in the issue.
"If we receive any complaint, we will initiate a detailed investigation. We will examine on what ground the land use was changed and what was the process adopted for the change of land use. If we find any irregularities in the entire investigation, the matter will be brought to the knowledge of the state government and stringent action will be taken," said AV Rajamauli, Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate.
According to Authority sources, grazing land had been allotted to realtors under the UP Industrial Act 1976 even though the apex court had banned non-grazing activities on grazing land.
"Any attempt by either the villagers or others to encroach upon or illegally convert the grazing land to housing projects or for other non-grazing use should be resisted and firm action will be taken," the court had said.
"Grazing land can be used for building schools or hospitals in special cases. In such cases, land will be made available only when land is not available anywhere else," said S D Kautilya, senior advocate, Allahabad high court.