Patrols by ex-Armymen to tackle illegal mining along Yamuna Expressway

Noida: Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has intensified enforcement across multiple sectors.Close to 100 ex-servicemen will now curb illegal mining and unauthorised construction in YEIDA area.Officials said 85 retired servicemen were already stationed in sectors 18, 20, 21, 22D, 22E, 24, 24A, 28, 29, 32 and 33 to monitor illegal mining. The authority has deployed 10 additional retired defence personnel in sectors 5, 8, 8D, 9 and 11, taking the total strength to nearly 100.To ensure better coordination, YEIDA will create a dedicated WhatsApp group for real-time information sharing among departments to facilitate swift demolition drives and tighter monitoring.Additional CEO Rajesh Kumar chaired a meeting with the deployed personnel on Saturday and briefed them on the enforcement strategy.Under the new protocol, daily reports will be submitted to the local police and to the heads of YEIDA's project and land records departments. Based on these inputs, the lekhpal and tehsildar concerned will initiate proceedings under Section 10 of the UP Industrial Area Development Act and ensure demolition of illegal structures as per rules. Area lekhpals and project engineers were directed to remain vigilant and will be held accountable for any illegal construction in their jurisdiction.To strengthen patrolling, YEIDA added one new Bolero vehicle to its existing fleet of four. The personnel will remain mobile across the notified area, maintaining surveillance on illegal excavation and construction activities. The authority's security wing was also tasked with initiating action against unauthorised construction.Officials said that in the past three years, YEIDA conducted nearly 30 major drives, reclaiming land worth around Rs 7,500 crore. They added that land mafias became active across the Jewar–Mathura–Aligarh belt following the airport announcement and rapid industrial growth, which pushed up land prices.