Noida stops crematorium revamp inside Biodiversity Park after complaints
Noida: Noida Authority has stopped the revamp of a crematorium that was coming up inside the Biodiversity Park in Sector 91, following complaints from residents of nearby societies.
Considered as the city's green lungs, the park was developed on 110 acres under a Rs 100-crore ecological development project. A deer park and sunset safari are also proposed to come up on 30 acres of the biodiversity park at an estimated Rs 40 crore.
The crematorium, being redeveloped on a land parcel about 50m from the park's gate number 2, is located within a 200-metre radius of several group housing societies and residential colonies in Sector 92.
A complaint submitted by the sector's RWA to Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M pointed out that the National Building Code prohibited constructing a cremation ground within 250 metres of human habitation and demanded an inquiry into the matter. The RWA also claimed the adjacent residential sectors were densely populated and emissions from cremation could pose risks to public health, environmental safety and the sanctity of the park.
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"Children, women, elderly and others, who use this beautiful park, will be afraid to enter if funeral pyres are allowed to burn there. It will spoil the image of this world-class biodiversity park and, due to religious sentiments, the park will become a 'ghost park,'" the letter stated.
Birdwatchers who frequent the Biodiversity Park have also raised objections. Tripti Upadhyaya, a birdwatcher and resident of Eldeco Utopia in Sector 93, said, "A cremation ground and biodiversity cannot go hand in hand.
The burning of remains and the smoke can easily disrupt the habitat for flora and fauna here."
In Gheja, about 2km away, villagers claimed the cremation ground existed inside the park for several decades. Kartar Pradhan of Gheja village claimed the villagers won the land through a high court ruling nine years ago and insisted that the plot was designated for cremation purposes.
While a structure allowing the simultaneous cremation of two bodies is already in place, an additional shed for visitors is under construction.
Noida has spent Rs 29 lakh on the project.
CEO Lokesh M said the area was reserved for an international wildlife attraction and ordered a full report on the matter. "Deer will be brought in from abroad for the sunset safari and the park. A cremation ground cannot be allowed at this location," he said. The Authority has called for a detailed report before taking any further action.
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