NOIDA: The UP govt has issued notices to several homebuyers of a Greater Noida West condominium and plans to impose a Rs 5-lakh penalty on the developer for unauthorised extraction of groundwater.
A recent survey by the district administration found at least 50 villa owners at Amrapali Leisure Valley society have set up borewells for personal consumption.
The apartment owners’ association (AOA) operates eight more borewells to supply water to over 250 villas in the complex. No-objection certificates (NOCs) were not obtained for any of these borewells.
In UP, to check the rapidly declining groundwater level, borewells are permissible only for bulk consumption.
Following complaints, Noida’s groundwater department last month issued notices seeking clarification from both the AOA and residents.
Officials said the apartment owners’ association responded earlier this month stating the developer — Amrapali Leisure Valley Developers Private Limited —installed the eight borewells.
Currently, NBCC is completing the stalled project of Amrapali under a court receiver’s supervision.
Subsequently, the department is set to impose a Rs 5 lakh penalty on the builder for installing borewells without proper authorisation and unauthorised excavation for borewells. As the fines will be levied on the construction company, discussions are currently underway between the groundwater department and NBCC over the implementation of the penalties.
Residents claimed the department’s actions were superficial and procedural, without substantial enforcement measures.
Ankita Rai, a hydrologist with the groundwater department, said some of these villa owners, who have set up the borewells for personal consumption, have recently applied for NOCs but this was in contravention of the rules and has been rejected.
“The society already maintains a comprehensive water supply network through eight operational borewells. Given the existing infrastructure is serving the large residential population here, the department cannot approve individual borewell permits,” Rai said.
