Noida to lift NGT ban on hot-mix plants, repair potholes by June 15
NOIDA: Following Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's deadline to repair all roads and fill potholes by June 15, the Noida Authority has geared up and directed all the contractors to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) court for lifting the ban on hot-mix plants so that road repair work could be finished without delay.
A lot of road repair work is pending in Noida as many of the main roads in the city were left riddled with large potholes after the NGT has put a closure on hot-mix plants in Gautam Buddh Nagar in the wake of alarming pollution levels after Diwali last year.
The construction of elevated roads and underpasses in Noida also compelled the roads to wear a more rugged and pitted surface over past few months.
Many residents and residents' bodies have also been complaining about potholed roads but the authority was not able to repair the roads till now due to lack of construction material and ban. Huge traffic snarls in the peak hours of the day due to irregular roads was a common problem faced by the commuters.
Taking the issue seriously, "The NGT has allowed three hot-mix plants out of 21 that were sealed for causing air pollution, to operate for the next three weeks so that we can repair potholes within the deadline fixed by the Uttar Pradesh government. Also, we will expedite the work on all projects, including the elevated road and under- passes," said a senior official from Noida Authority.
NGT has also asked the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to file its report on operations of hot-mix plants, latest by July 3. They will also look into and suggest guidelines ensuring that the hot-mix plants cause minimal air pollution.
The NGT in November had ordered the Noida and Greater Noida authorities, Gautam Budh Nagar police and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to inspect construction sites and penalize those causing air pollution.
Due to the ban, the Noida Authority was unable to repair potholes and finish 4.8 km elevated road, the Sector 94 underpass, NTPC underpass, bridge widening work and other infrastructural projects.