Plan to develop parking in green belt near Noida's Sector-72 shelved: NOIDA to NGT

NOIDA has told the National Green Tribunal that it has scrapped its plan to develop a parking area on a land in Sector-72 after a plea alleged that it was a green belt.

The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) informed a bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim that the issue was considered by the authority and it was decided not to develop any parking area on any portion of the green belt adjoining Block A in the sector.

"Responding to it (plea) on behalf of respondent no 3 (NOIDA), it is submitted that the respondent no 3 on its own is maintaining the area and therefore, there is no need for any order to this effect. Submission placed on record," the bench said while disposing of the plea.

"In view of the fact that the respondent no 3 has categorically undertaken that no construction activity as alleged in the application was to be done, the applicant's grievance is dispelled," it said.

The parking area was to be built constructed by Noida along with the Noida Metro Rail Corporation Limited.

The tribunal's order came on the plea filed by the Residents Welfare Association, Sector-72 seeking directions to NOIDA to immediately restrain the alleged illegal and unauthorised conversion of the green belt into a commercial zone public parking.

The plea sought a direction to the respondents, particularly the respondent no 4 -- the NOIDA Metro Rail Corporation Limited -- to forthwith relocate the public parking to a space available in the commercial belt adjoining the Metro station and restore the green belt.