Temple inside Vrindavan park? Locals fear loss of green cover

Noida: A group of residents at Sector 15A have opposed Noida Authority's proposal to build a temple inside the Vrindavan Park next to a club in the area. The park, used by several morning walkers and children, is spread over 1,000sqm and is dotted with trees, paved walkways and benches. A noticeboard put up by Noida Authority last week reads that a 361sqm section of the park has been earmarked for a temple.
Residents told TOI that constructing a temple inside the park would deprive the sector of its only green space, already hemmed in by the fetid Shahadra drain on one side and the congested Dadri Road on the other.SP Singh, a retired IAS officer and a resident of the year since 1990, wrote to the Noida Authority CEO on Friday, flagging that the original sector master plan showed a pumphouse at the site, with no proposal for a temple. Singh claimed the Authority's latest notification contradicted the park's long-established use and would lead to tree felling. "Twenty to 40 mature trees are likely to be cut, if this temple is to come up, in an area already short on green cover," he said, while seeking transparency regarding the allotment process. He claimed that his wife had tripped and fallen on the tapes put up around the park during her daily morning walk earlier this week. Vidhi Chawla (35), another resident of the sector, said a temple in the area could also raise genuine security concerns. "We are not a gated community. This sector does not have controlled access, and we cannot legally or practically stop people from entering once there is a temple here. Without proper safeguards and planning, the unrestricted movement of visitors could pose a threat to the safety and peace of residents," she said.Noida Authority, however, said the plot was earmarked for a temple on 600sqm in the master plan, which has since been reduced to 300sqm. Noida Authority CEO Krishna Karunesh clarified that the 361sqm section of the park that has been earmarked for a temple is a "facility plot" that typically refers to a land parcel specifically designated for community-related infrastructure, like a transformer or temple, or commercial use, like a milk booth. "As per our records, the land parcel is marked as a facility plot, where construction of a religious structure or any other facility deemed appropriate by the Authority is permissible under the rules," the CEO said. "The demand for a temple was raised by a section of residents, which the Authority is only facilitating," the CEO said. If there are objections, residents should submit them in writing, after which appropriate action can be taken. We are acting in the interest of residents," he added. Karunesh said no formal complaint has been received so far.Deputy director (horticulture) Anand Mohan Singh claimed that, contrary to claims, the plot did not fall under a green belt. He claimed the forest department's permission would be taken before any trees are felled in the area.