Noida: The residents of Sector 15 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh are protesting against the proposed auction of a neighbourhood park by the Noida Authority, which they fear will be converted into a temple. 

According to an official advertisement, the 301-square-metre park, described by residents as the “green lungs” of the society, has been listed for auction at a  price of over Rs 2.77 crore. Although the auction has not yet been completed, a particular group has reportedly begun claiming that the land is intended for the construction of a temple.

To resist the demolition of the park, residents organised a peaceful gathering on Sunday (February 22). The participants wore T-shirts with the slogan “Let the Parks Be”.

Meanwhile, children made paintings depicting nature, and residents tied red ribbons around trees in a symbolic gesture to protect the green space. Many of the protesters said the park has existed for over 40 years and serves as an essential space for recreational and health-related physical activities.

A petition has been filed in the Allahabad high court challenging the proposed replacement of the park with a temple. Along with the family members of Yashwant Sinha, a former minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, 59 of the residents are core petitioners and 206 others are signatories. 

“We have a temple in our home; let the park be,” said Kushal Singh, a petitioner and retired government officer.

Some residents have alleged that the Noida Authority, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Noida MP Mahesh Sharma, members of the residents’ welfare association (RWA), and an organisation named Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti are conspiring to conduct an unfair auction and facilitate the construction of a temple.

“I already know who the authority would give the land to,” alleged S.P. Singh, another petitioner and a retired government official.

The petition was scheduled to be head today (February 26). 

© The Wire