Retired cops & Armymen to guard reclaimed land near Noida airport
Noida: Illegal occupation and construction activities are rampant around upcoming Noida International Airport, where land demand is at its peak. Against this backdrop, retired DSP-rank officers and teams of Army personnel (retired) are being roped in to protect land owned by Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) from illegal colonisers and land mafias.
YEIDA's jurisdiction spans six districts — Gautam Budh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Hathras, Aligarh, Mathura and Agra. With the rapid development of major infrastructure projects such as the airport and the upcoming Film City, Logistic Park and Heritage City, land prices have surged dramatically, making these regions a prime target for land grabbing and unauthorised real estate activity. In response to the growing threat, YEIDA has introduced a comprehensive strategy to curb such activities before they escalate further.
The deputy superintendent of police-rank officers and Army personnel (retd) will be deployed to patrol and safeguard high-value and sensitive areas near the airport. Three key locations — Jewar, Vrindavan and Tappal — have been identified for the patrol in the new security setup. Anti-encroachment drives will now be conducted regularly every Tuesday as well. Over the past three years, the Authority carried out about 25 major anti-encroachment operations, reclaiming land valued at nearly Rs 2,500 crore from illegal possession.
YEIDA CEO Arun Vir Singh said, "Each of these three areas will get a team of 10 ex-servicemen. A retired DSP-level officer will lead each team. The teams will patrol using govt vehicles. They will be posted at specific locations and will guard the area to prevent any illegal activity." The initiative comes in the wake of a major crackdown last Thursday, during which YEIDA, in coordination with Aligarh's district administration and police, freed over 27 hectares of encroached land in three villages of Aligarh: Tappal, Sirsedhi and Helupur.
The market value of the reclaimed land is estimated to be over Rs 407 crore.
Officials said FIRs have been filed against 57 persons in Aligarh for their involvement in illegal constructions alone.
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