In a dramatic show of frustration, residents living along the Hindon river floodplains in Noida staged a protest demanding electricity connections — a basic necessity they say has been denied for years. Demonstrators gathered outside the chief engineer’s office in Sector 16, voicing anger over prolonged neglect despite repeated appeals to authorities.
Officials estimate that close to one lakh people live across villages such as Garhi Chaukhandi, Sorkha, Haldoni, Kulesra, Devla and Patwari on the floodplains. Many families claim they purchased land legally and built homes years ago, yet remain without official power supply.
Life in Darkness: Candlelight Nights and Unsafe Connections
Residents say the absence of electricity has forced them into dangerous alternatives. Many households rely on illegal wires drawn from nearby poles — a practice that often leads to frequent outages, disputes among neighbours and periodic crackdowns by power authorities.
Women at the protest described the daily hardships: children studying by candlelight, inability to charge phones, and lack of cooling during extreme weather. For migrant families who invested their life savings into small plots, the situation feels especially unjust.
Registered Plots, But No Basic Services
Several protesters argued that their land purchases were officially registered at the time, with no objections raised by authorities. Only later were they informed that the area falls within an eco-sensitive floodplain zone where permanent infrastructure is restricted.
Local representatives have demanded at least conditional or temporary electricity connections, citing humanitarian concerns and public safety.
Support From Farmers’ Groups, Memorandum Submitted
The protest received backing from farmer organisations, which warned that agitation would intensify if the issue remains unresolved. A memorandum outlining residents’ demands has been submitted to district officials, urging urgent intervention from the state government.
Authorities confirmed that a report on the matter has already been sent to higher officials, and a decision is awaited.
Environmental Rules vs Human Need
The issue highlights a complex conflict between environmental regulations and ground realities. The National Green Tribunal has repeatedly ordered removal of encroachments on floodplains, stating that construction in such zones threatens river ecosystems and increases flood risks.
However, slow enforcement over the years has allowed dense settlements to emerge — leaving thousands caught between legal restrictions and the need for essential services.
