LUCKNOW/NOIDA: A day after the Supreme Court ordered demolition of the 40-storey twin towers being constructed in Noida's Sector 93A, UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday ordered strict action against Noida Authority officials who were involved in allowing anomalies in construction of the two structures.
Presiding over a high level meeting in Lucknow, Yogi pointed out that the case dated back to 2004 and therefore a special inquiry committee should be constituted to probe the anomalies which were conducted over a period of time.
“Each and every official responsible for the irregularities should be brought to book in the case,” the CM stressed, directing officials to comply with the order of the Supreme Court.
Following the instructions of the CM, a joint probe team of senior officials has been entrusted with the investigation of the matter.
At the same time, departmental proceedings have also been started against the erring employees for not making higher officials aware of all the facts about the issue.
“The matter was pending in the court till now. Action will be initiated against the officials after a thorough probe by the special inquiry committee. We will follow every point of ruling by the apex court,” Noida CEO, Ritu Maheshwari, told TOI. Officials said that action would be initiated against the then officials and employees who were responsible for the anomalies.
According to a statement issued by the Noida Authority, the issue pertains to T-16 and T-17 towers constructed by Supertech on a 54,815 sq mt plot (number GH-04) in Sector-93 A. The allotment of plot and sanctioning of the map was done between 2004 and 2012. The structural maps for the said plot were given further sanctions in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2012.
On December 10, 2012, the resident welfare association (RWA) of the society filed a writ petition before the Allahabad high court alleging that the National Building Code-2005 and NOIDA building rule-2010 were flouted and adequate space between the two towers was not kept.
On April 11, 2014, the Allahabad high court ordered demolition of the two towers besides taking action against the builder and the officials. However, on May 5, 2014, the apex court passed a stay order on the high court after a Special Leave Petition (No. 11959/2014) was filed.
A senior Noida official said that the Tuesday ruling of the SC was essentially the detailed orders on the SLP while endorsing the HC orders. “The record of this case is replete with instances which highlight the collusion between the officers of Noida with the appellant and its management," said a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and M R Shah in its 140-page verdict.
The top court also affirmed the HC order for sanctioning prosecution under provisions of Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Act and Industrial Area Development Act, against the officials of the Supertech Ltd and the officers of Noida for violations of the provisions of laws.
The apex court said that the two towers be hammered down under the supervision of Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) within three months of the ruling. The cost of the entire exercise will be borne by Super Tech builders. The builders will also be required to refund the allottees – except those who have been given back their money before – along with an annual interest of 12%.
After SC order, Noida official suspended
An official recently shunted out of Noida Authority’s planning department was suspended by the state government late on Wednesday as heads started to roll a day after the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of Supertech’s twin towers at Emerald Court in Noida and prosecution of officials who colluded with the builder. Mukesh Goyal, a manager, was transferred from Noida Authority last month, soon after the SC’s scathing observations during a hearing in the case on August 5 when it called the authority a corrupt body. The Noida CEO had recommended action against Goyal on the basis of a preliminary inquiry, officials said.
