Noida Techie’s Drowning Raises Serious Concerns Over Infrastructure Negligence And Drainage Failures; Who Is At Fault?

The drowning of a 27-year-old software engineer, Yuvraj Mehta, in a 70-foot pit has sparked concerns over the infrastructural neglect and drainage failure in the area despite 21,000 people of 7,000 families living there. 

What is Noida Sports City project?

The Noida Authority allotted a multi-acre plot, SC-02, to Three C Builders to develop a sports city in Sector 150. Three C divided the land into smaller plots and subleased it to 24 builders for projects.

Approximately 7,000 families and 21,000 residents live in eight projects. According to a report by Jagran.com, SC-02 lacks proper drainage and approximately 28.35 lakh litres of water drains daily from the homes of these 7,000 families. This water is accumulating in a vacant plot of land.

Three C sold the land to MJ Wiztown and Lotus Green. A portion of the plot, approximately five acres, was sold to Artham Builders for the construction of a mall.

Two years ago, Artham excavated a basement for the mall. When the work was not completed, construction was stopped. A large portion of the 28.35 lakh liters of water from the homes of the residents was accumulating in this basement, where Yuvraj drowned inside his car.

Authority, Builder or irrigation department, who is at fault?

As the Irrigation Department refused to allow the authority to drain the water from beneath the dam, the drainage continued into the plot despite there being no such provision to do so. The authority and the irrigation department's failure to resolve this problem became the reason behind the tragic demise of Yuvraj, while the condition still remains the same, inviting similar incidents. The question is who is at fault, the Noida Authority, the irrigation department or the builders or all of them.

Residents have now taken up this issue with fervour. The residents have pointed out that Sector 150 lacks streetlights, mobile network and even road construction is incomplete. The sidewalks haven't been laid.

Residents from more than half a dozen societies have now taken to the streets to press their demands and secure justice for Yuvraj.