Noida:
Noida authorities today undertook demolition of illegal structures on the Yamuna river bed to free up almost 200 acres of land in Noida worth about Rs 2,000 crore.
Accompanied by irrigation department officials along with a large police contingent, authorities led by administrative officer Rajesh Prakash and SP (rural) Brijesh Kumar Singh conducted the demolition drive at the villages of Badoli Bangar and Kambakshpur.
Around 150 staffers were pressed into service on the demolition drive along with a host of JCB machines, dumpers and cranes.
Among the structures cleared today were also some farmhouses.
Encroachments, either in the form of (hutments) or any other manner, by any person or organisation shall not be permitted on the river bed, senior officials said.
"It is made clear that any structure, whether (for) religious, residential, commercial or any other purpose shall not be allowed to stand (on the river bed).
"The demolition drive will continue until all unauthorised colonies, farmhouses and other structures are demolished and the land freed of encroachments," Rama Raman, chairman and chief executive officer of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, said today.