Noida: Over the past few days, residents of Noida have been clearing flowerpots and hanging planters from their balconies. This follows an advisory issued by the Noida Authority after a tragic incident in Pune last month, when a boy playing with other housing society kids died after a flowerpot kept on a balcony parapet fell on his head.
“We have been trying to make people aware for a long time not to place any items on balcony parapets. But after the recent and very disturbing incident [in Pune], we issued an advisory to ensure people stop this practice completely,” Noida Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) M Lokesh told ThePrint.
Lokesh added that Apartment Owners’ Associations (AOAs) and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) have welcomed the decision and begun taking action at their own level by issuing notices to residents.
“It’s not just about others’ safety—it’s about your own. Everyone has to walk under balconies, and an accident can happen at any time,” said Swati Aggarwal, Vice President of the RWA, Sector 122, Noida.
Aggarwal added that they didn’t need to issue any formal notice. As soon as society residents were informed about the Noida Authority’s directive, they began removing plants and hanging pots from their balconies voluntarily.
Earlier this month, similar directives were issued in Gurugram and Ghaziabad as well. In Ghaziabad, the District Magistrate’s notice to the president of the Federation of Apartment Owners’ Associations also recommended ensuring that the outer units of air conditioners are securely installed and that the gaps in balcony railings are inspected and repaired if required.
Also read: RWAs are waging a war against Muslims—within societies, on WhatsApp groups
Welcoming initiative
ThePrint spoke to presidents, secretaries, and residents of several Noida societies, including Lotus Boulevard in Sector 100, Grand Ajnara Heritage in Sector 74, and societies in Sectors 19, 71, and Amrapali Riverview.
“In our society, there were around 20–25 flats where pots were placed on the balconies. Most residents have already removed them, but a few needed some convincing. We had to send them individual messages,” said Payal Khurana, Vice Secretary of the RWA, Grand Ajnara Heritage, Sector 74, Noida.
Sanjay Lal, president of the Federation of Apartment Owners’ Associations, Gurugram, said that while no official notice has been issued in the city so far, RWAs have decided to follow the safety protocol on their own.
“We have advised the presidents of various societies to issue internal notices regarding the removal of heavy flowerpots from balconies, as a preventive measure to avoid any future mishaps,” he said.
A resident of Grand Ajnara Heritage in Sector 74, Noida, said this is not the first time such a notice has been issued by the society.
“We often receive notices regarding the extension of balconies or hanging heavy items near or outside the railing. However, residents usually don’t take them seriously. But this time, since the Noida Authority has addressed the issue, people have started complying,” the resident said.
Ashish Jha, a resident of Supertech Capetown in Sector 74, Noida, also said these advisories aren’t new.
“I think it started around mid-April. On checking, I was informed it’s a routine advisory during summer,” Jha told ThePrint. He added that this time, residents in his society have been receiving reminders to remove flowerpots almost every week.
Speaking about the rules, regulations, and penalties, Noida Authority CEO Lokesh said that currently, there is no strict regulation or penalty in place, as most residents are already aware of the safety concerns. However, he added that if necessary, stricter regulations may be considered in the future.
Also read: The ‘dictatorial republic’ of RWAs — the other big problem Covid created for India
What urban design lacks
While many residents have welcomed the decision to avoid placing heavy items and flowerpots on balcony parapets, some have also expressed concern about where they will now keep their plants.
With Noida’s skyline increasingly dominated by high-rise buildings, residents often rely on their small balconies to bring a touch of greenery and beauty to their homes. To maximise space, many people extend their balconies by placing planters on or just outside the railings.
Aarzo, a resident of Supertech Capetown in Sector 74, Noida, called the ban a much-needed pre-emptive measure.
“However, it does highlight the lack of proper infrastructure, which is quite prevalent in societies across India. Western countries have strict instructions about what can and cannot be kept on balconies. But I don’t think we have similar guidelines under the Building Code in India,” she said.
Aarzo added that while the move promotes much-needed safety awareness, it also underlines the absence of thoughtful urban design.
“Flowerpots aren’t the problem. The problem is the lack of rules, regulations, and infrastructure to support even basic things like these,” she added.
(Edited by Prashant)