Noida Plot Owner Alleges Authority Directed Barricade Removal Before Tragic Drowning
In a significant development surrounding the tragic drowning of software engineer Yuvraj Mehta in Noida's Sector 150, the commercial plot's owner, Wiztown Planners, has made a serious allegation against the Noida Authority. The company claims that it removed safety barricades from the site in July 2021 specifically on instructions from the civic body.
Legal Submission Reveals Authority's Alleged Directive
During a recent bail hearing for Wiztown's director Abhay Kumar, the company's counsel presented a crucial submission. The plot was properly barricaded before July 2021, the counsel stated, adding that Noida Authority initiated action and explicitly asked Wiztown to remove the barricades that carried advertisements for the company's 'Artham' project.
This revelation comes as the Sector 150 plot faces intense scrutiny for civic lapses following the January 16 incident where 26-year-old Yuvraj Mehta drowned in accumulated water at the site.
Multiple Legal Charges Against Company Director
The legal situation has become increasingly complex for Wiztown Planners. Director Abhay Kumar was arrested last week and now faces charges in two separate FIRs:
- One FIR includes serious charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder along with negligence
- The second FIR has been registered under environmental protection and water pollution acts
Company's Previous Communications with Authority
Wiztown's counsel further revealed that the company had previously alerted the Noida Authority about infrastructure problems at the site. In March 2022, Wiztown wrote to Noida Authority, flagging the collapse of the Authority's sewer and main drain lines at multiple points. This damage resulted in continuous flow of sewage and drain water into Plot SC/02, A-3, which is owned by the company.
Noida Authority's Counter-Argument
A senior Noida Authority official responded to these allegations with a different perspective. The official stated that Wiztown had illegally placed advertisements on the barricades, and the Authority only requested removal of these advertisements, not the safety measures themselves.
Noida Authority never asked it to compromise on safety measures at the project site, the official emphasized. Safety and hygiene requirements are clearly mentioned in the sub-lease letters, and the company could have installed plain barricades without advertisements to ensure proper safety standards were maintained.
The official's statement suggests that while the Authority objected to the advertising aspect, it expected the company to maintain basic safety protocols through alternative means.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
As the investigation continues, this case highlights the complex interplay between corporate responsibility, civic authority directives, and public safety. The allegations and counter-allegations between Wiztown Planners and Noida Authority add another layer to the tragic incident that claimed the life of a young software engineer.
The legal proceedings will likely examine whether proper safety protocols were followed, who bears responsibility for the hazardous conditions at the site, and how communication between private companies and civic authorities affects public safety outcomes in urban development projects.
