Identify top 10 land grabbers: DM to Noida,G Noida and Yamuna eway authorities

Top officials in Uttar Pradesh have been told to act against land grabbers and those involved in unauthorised construction

Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate BN Singh has written to the chief executive officers (CEOs) of Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities to identify the top 10 land grabbers in their respective areas.

Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate, BN Singh (extreme left), has also asked SHOs to identify one land grabber each in their respective jurisdictions.

Top officials of the state have been directed to act against land grabbers and the government is trying to identify those involved in unauthorised construction and grabbing government land.

“I have asked the CEOs of the three authorities to cooperate in fighting land grabbers and those who construct unauthorised buildings, flouting building by-laws. Since the three authorities own land in Gautam Budh Nagar district, their support is crucial,” said BN Singh, the DM.

He has also asked station house officers (SHOs) to identify one land grabber each in their respective jurisdictions.

“We will send these land grabbers behind bars by filing cases under the Gangster Act. The idea is that nobody dares to grab government land or build unauthorised constructions,” Singh said.

On May 1, the DM had also formed an ‘anti-land mafia task force’ dealing with unauthorised construction and land grabbers. The additional CEOs of the respective authorities are also members of the ‘anti-land mafia task force’ at the district level . The administration has a separate task force at the tehsil level too.

The district-level task force has been directed to identify notorious land grabbers within two months.

“Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway authorities will identify the top 10 land grabbers and unauthorised housing developers as soon as possible. Once we have the list with us, we will plan the action to be taken,” said Singh.

In its 192nd board meeting held on June 2, the Noida authority had approved a proposal directing tehsildars to maintain a record of people involved in land grabbing and bringing up unauthorised constructions on their own land.

The Greater Noida authority, in its June 5 board meeting, and the Yamuna Expressway authority, in its June 9 board meeting, are expected to take steps against land grabbing.

“Our tehsildars are working to prepare a list of those who have grabbed government land and those who have built houses illegally on their own land, violating the master plan of Noida,” said Amit Mohan Prasad, CEO, Noida authority.