The Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations (FONRWA) is demanding the regularization of unauthorized construction, particularly in LIG, MIG, and HIG flats, such as room extensions, in the city, following penalties by the authority.According to the RWA federation, which has over 200 member RWAs in the city, this will address the issues of a lack of low-cost housing for middle and lower-middle-class citizens.
Citing the lack of affordable homes for this class, especially migrant labourers who come to the city in search of work, the RWA umbrella body, which has written to the Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M on the matter, claims the move will benefit both citizens and the authority. It will address the housing issue for many and generate revenue for the authority.
“Many residents have undertaken unauthorized construction, like building an extra room or covering the balcony to extend it into a room, in their properties to accommodate growing families. The high cost of housing in Noida has made it impossible for middle and lower-class families to buy their own houses. We have requested the Noida Authority CEO to regularize such residential properties, which are marked as unauthorized construction, by implementing appropriate penalties. This will help the needy find a home at a low cost in the city,” said Yogendra Sharma, president of FONRWA.
Sharma further adds that since Noida is an industrial city, it attracts workers from different cities who cannot afford the high cost of housing. “This dashes their hopes of building their own house. Also, group housing projects have been dominating the city for about 10-12 years as the authority started allocating plots to builders from around 2007-08. These projects, with high rises comprising one, two, three, and four BHK as well as villas, are unaffordable to the common man,” said Sharma.
FONRWA Secretary General KK Jain further maintained that the Authority has not built any 1BHK and 2BHK flats for labourers and low and middle-income groups, after the initial lot, for many years. “The prices of existing flats are very high, and private builders are building most of the big flats. Hence, this move will help address the housing issue of the common man,” said Jain, adding it will be beneficial to both the residents and the Authority, which can gain revenue through the penalty amount.
The residents’ body also demanded the construction of affordable housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for Noida’s economically weaker sections to address the issue.