NGT issues notice on plea alleging illegal police booth construction on Greater Noida green belt

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Sunday issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA), the Uttar Pradesh Police and other authorities on a plea alleging that an unauthorised police booth is being constructed on a notified green belt in Greater Noida in violation of the approved Master Plan.

A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Afroz Ahmad was hearing an original application filed by Rajneesh Chauhan alleging that illegal and unauthorised construction is underway on a notified green belt area at Malakpur village near Lakhnawali Road in Greater Noida.

According to the plea, the land is reserved as a green/recreational belt under the approved Master Plan of Greater Noida, but the Police Department is allegedly constructing a police booth on the site without authorisation.

“Issue notice to the respondents,” the NGT said.

During the hearing, counsel for the applicant referred to a communication dated December 31, 2025, issued by the GNIDA to the Surajkund Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone), Pooja Vashisth.

The communication, as recorded in the green tribunal’s order, said that “the area is a green belt and there is a park proposed to be developed therein but the Police is constructing a police booth in that area, therefore the construction has been stopped”.

However, the applicant said that despite the communication stating that the work had been halted, photographs dated December 30, 2025, and May 11, 2026, along with geo-coordinates, showed that “the construction is still going on”, the order noted.

The NGT directed the applicant to supply copies of the original application along with its annexures to the appearing respondents within three days.

It granted four weeks to the respondents to file their reply affidavits.

The green tribunal also directed the applicant to serve the remaining respondents and file an affidavit of service at least one week before the next date of hearing.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 17.

–IANS

pds/khz