Greater Noida residents seek clarification over multiple RWAs

GREATER NOIDA: Can more than one RWA be allowed to function in a single colony? Residents of the city have demanded a clarification from the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) on the issue, with the latter initiating the registration process of multiple RWAs in each colony to offer them more rights.

Earlier this month, GNIDA floated the idea of setting up multiple RWAs in one colony.

The proposal was sounded out before the office-bearers of the residents’ associations through social media platforms. But the residents have upped the ante against the development authority for such a move.

Kailash Bhati, president of Sector 36 RWA, said, “Since the move to hand over the sectors entirely to RWAs has flopped, GNIDA has come up with another formula to weaken the residents’ groups. All this while sectors such as Alpha 1, 2, 3, Beta 1, 2, 3, Delta 1, 2, 3 and so on are being governed by a single RWA. Now, the Authority wants to divide them further into blocks.”

“As per their vision, A, B and C blocks in Alpha 1 can have different RWAs. The same model will be implemented in other sectors as well,” he added.

GNIDA, on its part, maintains that the unique plan has been proposed to manage the localities and residential blocks in a better manner. Officials said they had studied the model being followed for municipal governance in industrial townships across developed countries and found it highly successful.

“We will organise discussions with RWAs in the next few days to exchange notes on this aspect. The idea is to improve urban services and delivery within the sectors. Final decision will be taken only if residents are on board with the idea,” said Greater Noida Authority CEO Narendra Bhooshan.

Residents, however, feel that Authority has been looking for ways to pass on financial liabilities over to RWAs for the past few months.

Alok Nagar from Delta 2 RWA, said, “Even villages which have a population of 4,000 to 5,000 have only one pradhan. Creation of multiple RWAs will lead to animosity, factionalism and bickering among groups. Hence we are opposing the proposal. We will present local governance models of successful townships before Authority officials to put the point across.”