NOIDA: In a meeting with a delegation of the Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association (FONRWA) on Tuesday, Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M addressed a number of concerns raised by the residents, which included vendor zones, encroachment-free roads, a need for city bus services, parking and commercial activities in residential areas, stray dogs, policy on external repair and water supply, among others.
ACEOs Sanjay Kumar Khatri, Vandana Tripathi, OSDs Mahendra Prasad, Satish Pal, Devendra Pratap Singh, GM (Water), RP Singh, DGMs Vijay Rawal and SP Singh were among the attendees.
FONRWA president Yogendra Sharma highlighted an urgent need for city bus services for connectivity from metro stations to residential, industrial and other sectors of the city.
Sharma further questioned the decision to set up vending zones in residential sectors without consulting the residents or RWAs of the respective sectors, saying that once the vendor zones are set up, traffic, encroachment would result in security concerns.
The CEO said, “No new hawkers are being added to the vending zones right now. The illegal vendors and shopkeepers in the vending zones will be removed.”
The delegation further said that instances of stray dog bites have increased in the city. “Keeping in mind the magnitude of the problem, there is an urgent need to deploy at least 4 agencies, each of which can be assigned a particular area,” said KK Jain, secretary general of FONRWA. The CEO said that the Authority has amended its pet policy to curb the incidents of dog bites in the city, but it needs to be implemented immediately.
“Two new dog shelters have been opened in sectors 34 and 135, where dog bites will be treated,” said Lokesh M.
The FONRWA delegation further pointed out that in several sectors, people have been getting dirty water and insufficient water supply. He said that Ganga water supply should be increased to improve the quality and quantity of the water supply. The CEO said that water supply has started from four Ranney wells, due to which, water pressure and supply in the sector have been resumed. He further said that the supply of Ganga water will eventually be increased. “Water quality will be kept in check by installing a filter on one of the tanks,” the CEO said.
Raising the issue of illegal encroachments in the city, FONRWA secretary general KK Jain said, “Unauthorised shopkeepers, vendors, hawkers, handcarts occupy the roads and footpaths in residential sectors. The authority must conduct regular checks to monitor encroachment and other illegal activities,” said Jain.
The CEO asked concerned officials to take strict action on this and run regular campaigns.
Residents further demanded the plaster and upkeep of flats built by the Authority. “The Noida Authority has constructed HIG/MIG/LIG and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats in various areas of the city. These flats have been given to the residents on a lease of 90 years. There are frequent incidents of plaster collapse and grit wash on the walls of flats, stairs and balconies. We requested for their re-plastering and repair,” said Jain.
Other issues discussed were clogged sewers, and the operation of guest houses, offices, hostels, warehouses, playschools, etc., in residential areas among others.
The CEO said the Authority will look into the raised concerns and asked the RWAs to submit a written petition about them.
