425-cr land along Hindon in Gr Noida freed from squatters

GREATER NOIDA: In an early morning demolition drive, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) flattened illegal structures on nearly 300 acres of prime land, valued at nearly Rs 425 crore, in the Hindon flood-zone area. The drive was undertaken near Greater Noida’s Haibatpur village on Wednesday.
Following the orders of Rama Raman, chairman and CEO of Greater Noida Authority, GNIDA officials, amid heavy police force, razed scores of illegal structures.An FIR against five unauthorized developers was registered after GNIDA submitted a complaint.
The four-hour drive started around 5am. The Authority had received many complaints regarding illegal developers plotting and selling government land to unsuspecting individuals. Senior Greater Noida officials, officials from the district administration, police and provincial armed constabulary (PAC) personnel participated in the operation.
“Plotted development of illegal colonies, along with site offices of unauthorized developers, their booking offices, roads, etc were demolished,” Manvender Singh, additional CEO, GNIDA, said. “We have also submitted a complaint report against the land mafia, in which five persons have been named. An FIR against them had been registered in February too,” Singh told TOI.
According to officials, the land has been earmarked for a green zone to be developed along the river front. “The freed land has been earmarked for a farmhouse scheme for agriculturists,” Singh said. The ACEO warned that the anti-encroachment drive would cover Greater Noida and no one would be allowed to get away scot-free.
“Any construction being done in the flood zone area is illegal and will be razed to the ground. Only agriculture activity can be allowed in this area,” he said. He further warned of strict penal action against fraudsters.