Land near passport office turns a garbage dump, illegal parking lot

NOIDA: As Sector 19 awaits a garbage-free tag, residents of the sector have complained of a vacant plot of 20,000sqm in the middle of the sector being used as a dumping ground for garbage. This plot of land is located between the city magistrate and the passport Seva Kendra. It has become a breeding ground for stray cattle, a dumping site for garbage, and an area for unauthorized parking.
“The ground is a no man’s land as it’s rampantly being used as a dumping ground for garbage, illegal parking of heavy vehicles, a home for over 50 stray cattle and also unauthorized functions like marriages etc,” said RC Gupta, the RWA president of Sector 19.
Gupta further alleged that during the monsoon season, water accumulates in the plot and, since there is no proper drainage outlet here, the plot becomes a breeding ground of mosquitoes.
Despite the residents having made several complaints about the matter to the officials, there has been no redress from the authority so far.
“During the rainy season, the land turns into a big lake. Sludge and muck in the pond leads to a foul smell. Despite repeated complaints to the authority, no maintenance work or cleaning gets done here,” Gupta added.
The land was meant to be used for the construction of an educational institution. But since the allottee could not clear the dues, the land came under Noida authority’s possession.
The RWA of the sector suggests that, apart from regular maintenance, a boundary wall is also required around the ground to prevent its misuse.
“We request the Noida Authority CEO to spare some time and see the ground for himself. It should be converted into a children’s park or a club for the sector’s residents to use, similar to the clubs of sectors 26 and 27,” Gupta added. A response on the matter is awaited from officials of the Noida Authority.