NOIDA residents protest destruction of parks for 'development'

New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) Four lush green parks of adjoining NOIDA are being turned into a jungle of concrete by authorities in the name of development, evoking strong protest from nature lovers and users of the parks.

The residents feel the way and the pace at which trees were being cut in the parks--Mansarovar, Nandan Kanan, Bal Udyan and Smriti Van--for their ''development'', the four eye-soothing patches of the green cover would soon become history.

They have apprehension that the land developed out of destruction of the trees will soon be commercialised and become out of the reach of the common man.

Mr Kanan Jaisawal, the spokesperson of the 'Yamuna Park Users Association' formed by the residents, said they had given a memorandum to the NOIDA Chairman last month but the authorities had been fighting shy of giving any written assurance, which strengthens their fears that the parks may go out of existence soon.

A lake in the park has already dried up due to construction activities.

The Association has made a fervent plea to the authorities to save these parks which are an integral part of the city's environment.

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