Residents oppose demolition drive by GDA in Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad: Residents of Gulmohar Green Society today staged a protest against the demolition drive by the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) and raised slogans against the colony’s builder for allegedly flouting norms.

The demolition drive at Gulmohar Green Society, opposite to the Hindon Air Force Station, was being carried out today in compliance with the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) orders, GDA Vice Chairman Vijay Yadav said.

The GDA’s enforcement squad has demolished lawns and boundaries of ground floor villa-apartments as they were illegally constructed on “common place”, he said, adding the action report has to be submitted to the NGT by March 20.

The assistant engineer, who was heading the squad, said the common places outside the villa-apartments have been sold fraudulently.

Today when demolition in front of 126 villas started, residents obstructed work and alleged that the builder had sold the land illegally, he said.

The builder is yet to obtain completion certificate from the GDA, the engineer said.

However, the society’s Resident Welfare Association president Bhushan Chowdhary alleged that GDA officials are in cahoots with the builder.

He (the builder) is still constructing the same villa-apartments in three towers. Instead of checking the illegal constructions, the squad is demolishing the lawns and boundaries of those in which people reside.

Former RWA president Nishchal Tyagi claimed that many written complaints have been lodged against the builder in the GDA office but all remained futile.

He said the RWA will lodge an FIR against the builder.

Residents also locked the sales and maintenance office of the builder to press for their demands.

PTI