NOIDA: Hundreds of residents took to streets on Wednesday demanding ‘free-hold’ status on their properties against ‘lease-hold’ as of now. The protesters gathered outside the Sector 6 office of Noida Authority as the deadline given by the Federation of Noida RWAs (FONRWA) for conversion of land rights expired on January 15.

The federation has been campaigning for years demanding free-hold status for Noida properties. However, the demand has recently gathered steam after several plot allottees, most of them in Sector 71, received lease cancellation notices from Noida Authority over non-compliance of some rules.

“This is for the right of every resident of Noida and Greater Noida. We face the threat of lease cancellation over trivial issues. In every city of this country, free-hold right is granted to property owners. We are also demanding for permanent ownership over our properties,” said N P Singh, president, FONRWA.

The FONRWA protesters were joined by several other city-based organisations including Noida Entrepreneurs Association (NEA) and RWAs of Greater Noida. Many independent civil society representatives also joined the demonstration.

Later in the day, Noida authority officials met FONRWA representatives and assured them of complete cooperation. “The officials have told us that the issue will be discussed during the authority’s board meeting on February 7. They have also promised to look into our demand of making changes to the land use pattern in the twin-cities,” said a FONRWA member who attended the meeting.

However, Noida Authority CEO-cum-chairman Rama Raman told TOI that it was not possible to allow ‘free-hold’ status on properties in Noida.

“The city is governed under the UP Industrial Area Development Act, 1976. Noida is an industrial township as per this law. Hence, all municipal functions are also discharged by the Noida Authority. It is technically not possible to convert title of land ownership to free-hold here,” he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/Residents-protest-for-free-hold-land-in-Noida/articleshow/28865108.cms