SC orders probe into Noida land compensation payouts

{ STRUCTURAL REFORMS SOUGHT } EXCESS PAYOUT WORTH ₹12 CRORE

- Abraham Thomas

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a sweeping probe into the alleged bungling of public funds by officials of Noida Authority accused of paying crores in excess land compensation, as the top court called for a structural overhaul of the landowning body to make it more transparent and citizen-focused.

Inaslew of directions, a bench of justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed the Uttar Pradesh government to consider restructuring the Noida Authority into a metropolitan corporation with a citizen-centric approach, and asked the state chief secretary to place this recommendation before the Council of Ministers.

For the interim, the chief secretary was ordered to immediately appoint a chief vigilance officer (CVO) for Noida and a citizen advisory board (CAB) within one month to address residents’ grievances. Italso directed that no construction projects be cleared without an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and subsequent approval from the Supreme Court's green bench.