New Delhi: Around 86 per cent residents in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, said there was encroachment of “common areas or spaces” in their colonies/ societies, according to a survey by Local Circles, a community social media platform.
The findings come days after politician Shrikant Tyagi was arrested from Meerut following a video of him allegedly assaulting a woman over an illegal construction at his residence in Noida’s Grand Omaxe society went viral. The Surajpur court in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida Thursday rejected his bail.
The survey received over 2,000 responses from residents of Noida, out of which 61 per cent were men and 39 per cent women.
Around 43 per cent believed that “many residents” in their colony or society have encroached upon common areas, while 29 per cent said a “few” people in their colony/society were guilty of the same. Another 14 per cent respondents claimed that “1-2 residents” have encroached on common areas/spaces.
”Illegal extensions and additions to houses and apartments or encroachment of common areas/public spaces, are not just restricted to slums/lower income colonies or semi urban areas but are a reality even in upper middle class and affluent neighborhoods and societies,” noted the LocalCircle’s report.
‘Lack of intent to address encroachments’
The survey also received inputs from several residents on the way forward. Many said that the Noida Authority should mandate disclosure by all Apartment Owner Associations (AOA) and the Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) on encroachments of public spaces in their societies/colonies.
AOAs and RWAs are formed for the welfare of residents and owners living in apartments. It is formed by the owners of the apartments in a society or residential area and are governed by the Societies Registration Act.
People believe that if AOA and RWA signatories sign on disclosure forms, they will automatically evaluate their societies/colonies for encroachment. The Noida Authority could then take action against residents after due notification.
“However, some citizens felt that there is lack of intent to address encroachments both by the authority and RWAs/AOAs because many of the officer bearers are also guilty,” the survey further noted.
Referring to the Tyagi’s incident, LocalCircles founder Sachin Taparia said, “With this latest episode, there is an opportunity for Noida Authority to drive systemic change by issuing disclosure guidelines for AOAs and RWAs and address the issue of encroachment.”
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