Flat Buyers in Noida Have to Wait Longer For Possession

Buyers of flats in some parts of Noida will have to wait longer as the Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to interfere with a National Green Tribunal order restraining the Noida Development Authority from issuing completion certificates in respect of structures falling within 10 km of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.

An apex court bench of Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice C. Nagappan Tuesday declined the plea by Jaypee Infratech challenging the order of the green tribunal which said no completion certificate will be issued to projects within 10 km of the bird sanctuary.

Senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi told it that nearly 4,000 flats are completed and flat owners who have paid for them are awaiting occupation certificates.

The court also said the appeal stage has not arrived as the government has yet to take a decision on demarcating the boundaries of the eco-sensitive zone around Okhla Bird Sanctuary as directed by the green tribunal on April 3.

Criticising the Uttar Pradesh government stand of fixing 100 metres for the outer limit of eco-sensitive zone, the court said: "One government says fragile area is 100 metres from the forest."

If a limit barring construction activities has been laid down and if constructed structures are within it, then those have to be pulled down, the court said.

Jaypee Infratech said if the green tribunal order was not stayed and buyers were not allowed to take possession of their flats, they would suffer a lot of hardship.