Protected Gr Noida forest zone becomes a dump yard

GREATER NOIDA: Rapid construction work and an improper disposal system, has turned Gulistanpur a protected forest zone near Surajpur wetland into a dump yard.
This restricted forest area has been reduced to a junkyard, with rubble from nearby construction sites and sacks of non-biodegradable waste found dumped within its boundaries.
Absence of a proper boundary around the forest fringes has led to easy access.Construction debris dumpes over the years can be seen piled up in this area and make an entire stretch of the forest's boundary appear to be made of concrete.
Environmentalist Vikrant Tongad, who runs the NGO, Social Action for Forest and Environment, sees it as clear infringement of solid waste disposal rules. "It will cause long-term harm to the trees and the ecosystem. Reserved forests are supposed to be protected. Why can't there be a definite place where builders can dispose of their construction wastes," Tongad asked.
Yogesh Nagar, another Greater Noida-based environmental activist, said it was the duty of the Noida Authority and the forest department to protect the reserved forests in the district. "There should at least be a fence, so that people do not dump waste into the fragile soil of a protected forest," Nagar said.
Talking to TOI, N P Upadhyay, the forest ranger in charge of Gulistanpur said, "The dumping is usually done by people carrying out constructions in the vicinity. There should be a restriction on major construction activities around the area. Only then will there be no cause for dumping solid waste".
A senior officer of the Greater Noida Authority said the forest department should enforce restrictions. "The Gulistanpur forest area is under the supervision of the forest department, so any rule or restriction to protect the forest from garbage or pollution will have to be implemented by the department," he said.