Noida villagers stop work

Angry villagers on Thursday stormed a group-housing construction site of a private builder in sector 135 off the Noida-Greater Noida expressway and stopped work to protest extensive damage being caused to their houses.

Angry villagers on Thursday stormed a group-housing construction site of a private builder in sector 135 off the Noida-Greater Noida expressway and stopped work to protest extensive damage being caused to their houses.

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More that 40 houses in village Wajidpur have developed huge cracks because of vibrations caused by heavy-duty construction activities. The site is located between the expressway and the village.

Villagers, including women and the elderly, took control of the site and chased workers of the builders away.

Panicky workers reached the office of senior superintendent of police, who, in turn, sent a police team to the village to pacify the agitators.

When policemen reached the spot, the agitators had a heated exchange with them. Villagers then reached the office of Noida authority where they held a meeting with administrator officer (AO), Deep Chand.

Late in the evening, an agreement was reached. “The construction will stop for two days. All possible precautions will be taken in the interest of villagers,” said a senior official. Villagers said the vibrations had become a nightmare as huge pillars were being drilled without adequate shock-absorber techniques.

Mahesh Singh Awana, spokesperson of Kisan Sangarsh Samiti, said, “Despite our complaints, the builder used police force to suppress our voices. We had no other option but to raid the site.” Charan Singh, former village head, said the builder had agreed to compensate for badly damaged houses.

“They will also repair houses which have developed minor cracks,” he said.