Residents across several sectors in Noida say they have long raised concern over persistent sewage overflow in their areas, which leads to foul odour, unhygienic surroundings and damp conditions, but have yet to find any resolution to the problem.
Rajendra Kumar, secretary, Resident Welfare Association (RWA) of HIG Apartments, Swarnim Vihar, Sector-82, said the problem has persisted for years. “These flats were allotted around 2001, so it has been about 25–26 years. During construction, debris likely accumulated in the sewer lines. The sewer line is blocked at multiple places across the block.”
He added that overflowing sewage has particularly impacted residents of the ground floor. “There is constant bad odour. When sewer water overflows, it creates mud and slush. Naturally, ground-floor residents suffer the most. Water accumulates and gradually starts seeping into flats, causing dampness and seepage issues,” he said.
According to residents, temporary fixes provide little relief. When it is reported to the concerned officials, they just send a sewage cleaning machine to address that complaint.
According to Kumar, the RWA secretary, they send in a team to come clean it and unblock it. However, it’s temporary solution that offers relief for just a few days.
“They fix it temporarily, and within a few days the same issue returns,” Kumar said.
In Century Apartments, Sector 100, RWA secretary Pawan Yadav alleged that untreated sewage is being discharged into open drains.
“When untreated sewage water is released into the drain, foul smell spreads everywhere. There are mosquitoes and flies, which can lead to diseases,” Yadav said.
He further claimed that despite repeated complaints, untreated sewage continues to be released into the drain. “The Noida Authority says the drains are covered but it is not properly shut. It needs to be permanently stopped so that residents do not suffer. With mosquito season starting, the risk of diseases increases,” he said.
The federation of Noida Residents Welfare Associations (FONRWA) secretary KK Jain said the problem is not limited to one sector. “It exists in several sectors. The main issue is that the load on the water and sewer lines has increased significantly. The old lines have become inadequate,” Jain said.
He added that long-term solutions require procedural steps. “Such procedures take time. A tender has to be issued, and after the tender process, work begins. It may take a month or one-and-a-half months. Work is in progress,” Jain said.
According to FONRWA, representing 120 RWAs, while cleaning teams are deployed when complaints are raised, complete replacement or repair of old sewer lines has not yet been undertaken. Larger works require a formal tendering process, which adds to delays.
Ashok Verma, senior manager at the Noida Water Board, said, “With the rise in population, particularly around housing societies, the load on these drains has increased significantly, and many of the pipes are old. Whenever we receive a complaint, we send a team to address the issue. We are also examining the request for possible replacement of the lines.”
The department is also looking into the matter of untreated sewage water allegedly being released into the drain, he added.