Noida’s authorities face intense scrutiny following the drowning of student Harshit Bhatt in an unguarded pit on a contentious plot. Fresh details reveal the land was handed to the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (UPRNN) for Habitat Centre development, yet construction halted long ago amid ownership battles.
Water accumulated in deep ditches on the site, which security guards were supposed to monitor. How did a child slip through? Neighbors report repeated warnings ignored, with open hazards posing risks to children playing nearby.
The dispute traces back to 2022 when Noida Authority’s 205th board meeting axed the deal with UPRNN, shifting to a PPP model. Remarkably, the corporation retained control, stalling any safety upgrades.
Outrage is building as families mourn and question why such a prime urban spot became a deathtrap. ‘Fence it off now,’ demand locals, urging probes into negligence.
This incident highlights systemic failures in land management and project execution. With Noida expanding rapidly, unchecked disputes can’t claim more innocent lives. Officials promise reviews, but tangible reforms are urgently needed to restore public trust.
