Noida authority begins razing 47 illegal shops, 20 studio units in Gardenia Gateway

NOIDA: Continuing with its crackdown against illegal construction in residential complexes, the Noida Authority on Monday began a drive to raze as many as 47 illegal shops and 20 unauthorised studio apartments at Gardenia Gateway Society in Sector 75.

The demolition drive in the group housing society will continue for a few more days as six authorised convenience shops fall in the middle of the illegal kiosks, officials said. Though some illegal shop owners tried to protest, the local police quickly stepped in to disperse them.

Gardenia Gateway came under the scanner of the Authority in 2019 when some residents alleged that the builder was not completing some pending works and had also constructed a number of illegal kiosks in the commercial area of the society.

Rakesh Kumaria, secretary of the Gardenia Gateway Social Welfare Society, said, “These unauthorised shops and studio apartments were built on the land which was earmarked in the approved map of our society as a swimming pool, community hall and green area. I was the one to first approach the Noida Authority.”

According to the residents, the Authority embarked on a demolition drive in 2021 but left it halfway after some owners pleaded for time to vacate the illegal structures. “Some of these unauthorised shops were sold for a whopping Rs 1.5 crore each. The studio apartments were built inside the community hall,” Kumaria said, adding that the developer and the owners of some unauthorised shops also moved the Allahabad HC last year for a stay “but the court refused to grant them any reprieve”.

After they failed to get any relief from the court, the shopkeepers went to the local police station where it was agreed between the builder and the owners that in case of any damage to the structures, the developer will compensate them with a new shop or a flat in the society, Kumaria claimed.

Authority officials said that as some authorised shops shops fall in the middle of illegal kiosks, they can’t use earth-moving machines for demolition.

“Last year too, we razed some of these illegal shops but the drive had to be stopped mid-way. As the shops are linked to each other, we will take some more days to complete the demolition work here,” said senior manager (work) in Noida’s circle 6, Mukesh Vaish.

Residents started living in the society from 2015. But the society is yet to receive the occupancy certificate from the Noida Authority. “The society is in a bad shape. In C Block, for instance, the basement is completely damaged due to water leakage. So, the block residents are forced to park their cars in other towers,” Kumaria said.

Surendra Singh Deol, a director of Gardenia India Limited, however, termed the Authority’s action as “wrong”. “Construction has been done according to the approved map. No construction has been done at places earmarked for green area, swimming pool or community hall. We will now approach the high court.”