Residents, vendors at loggerheads over encroachments in Sector 137
NOIDA: Residents and vendors in Noida’s Sector 137 have been embroiled in a tussle over alleged illegal encroachments at several places across the sector since the past one week, said sources. While residents claim that the number of unauthorised vendors is constantly increasing in the area, vendors alleged that residents want them to shut shops as they have refused to pay extortion money to Sector 137 residents. Both groups have also complained to the Noida authority, sources added.
According to the residents, after they lodged a complaint regarding the unauthorised vendors, officials from the Noida authority visited the encroachment site last week.
However, a group of vendors also reached the spot and started a fight with the local residents, forcing the authority officials to leave.
“The vendors have illegally occupied areas along the main roads, which also creates a bottleneck as people gather near them. It is completely illegal and when we tried to get the authorities to remove them, they started abusing and threatening us. They have now tried
to threaten us on multiple occasions while the authority has not done anything in this regard yet,” said Abhisht Kusum Gupta, a Sector 137 resident.
Meanwhile, vendors said that they are being removed because they refused to pay extortion money to the local residents. The town vending committee (TVC) members also visited the area and lodged a complaint with the Noida authority.
“TVC members visited the site and were informed that vendors have been using the same area since the past few years by paying some amount of money to a few residents in the area. They recently stopped paying this money, after which the residents started a drive to remove them. We have complained about the issue to the Noida authority,” said Gangeshwar Dutt Sharma, TVC general secretary.
Residents said that these allegations are baseless and the vendors have no proof to back their claims.
“These vendors are now lying through their teeth and trying to strong arm us. It is illegal and wrong. We have raised the issue with the police and at the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS) portal and will also approach the courts if required,” said Gupta.