News / Author / Maria Khan

Maria Khan

Senior Correspondent, Hindustan Times. Reports on district administration, health, civic issues, and environmental concerns in Noida and Greater Noida. Graduated from MJP Rohilkhand University in 2015 and started career in journalism in 2016, at The Times of India, UP West (Bareilly, Rampur, Moradabad and Sambhal) where reported on a range of issues including crime and politics till November 2021. Working with Hindustan Times since June, 2023.

Articles by Maria Khan

Gautam Budh Nagar issues guidelines to agencies for Kanwar Yatra preparations

The urban local bodies have been directed to ensure arrangements are in place while departments have commenced repairing roads

Departments concerned have been asked to maintain cleanliness on the designated routes of Kanwariyas, ensuring proper drainage, arrangements for portable water, sufficient lighting. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 21, 2024 06:22 AM IST

ByMaria Khan

Noida: UPPCB points out rainwater harvesting system in parks

The move came following an environmental activist apprising various local government bodies about issuance of tenders for rainwater harvesting in parks of Noida

The rainwater harvesting in parks, instead of rooftop rainwater harvesting, involves the risk of polluting the aquifers with fertilisers and the sewage treatment plant (STP) water used in the parks, say environment activists. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 20, 2024 06:54 AM IST

ByMaria Khan

Dogged by civic issues, residents threaten to lock up office of Greater Noida authority

The RWA representatives took out a march as a protest from parts of Greater Noida to the authority office in Knowledge Park 4 to raise their demands

Noida

Updated on Jul 19, 2024 06:18 AM IST

ByMaria Khan

Six developers fined ₹35 lakh for illegal water extraction in Noida

They said the dewatering exercise was being carried out at the construction sites in sectors 153, 154 and 129 in Noida

Officials of the groundwater department said illegal extraction of groundwater poses a significant threat to the water table, which is already depleting at an alarming rate in the district. Notably, Noida’s groundwater level dropped by 9.9 metres in the post-monsoon months and 8.5 metres in the pre-monsoon months between 2017-2023. (HT Archive)

Noida

Updated on Jul 18, 2024 05:40 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

Power poles, cables secured to ensure safe passage of kanwariyas, Muharram processions

Danger signs and caution tapes were affixed on power poles, besides fencing around unsafe transformers, said officials

Unsafe distribution transformers are being identified and covered with fences, to cut off any direct access. said NPCL officials. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 17, 2024 07:06 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Greater Noida

1% of project cost to be imposed as fine on builders extracting groundwater, NGT told

As many as 33 group housing societies were found to be allegedly extracting groundwater illegally in 2023 in Greater Noida West. An environmental compensation of ₹306 crore was also levied by the committee on the errant developers

The petitioner said a minimum 5% of the total project cost should be levied on errant builders. (HT Archive)

Noida

Updated on Jul 17, 2024 06:52 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Greater Noida

Sector 105 residents seek repair of boundary wall of greenbelt

The damaged portions, located in Block C and D, let the stray cattle enter the locality as well as strangers from Hajipur and adjacent areas to venture around

Noida

Updated on Jul 16, 2024 05:24 AM IST

ByMaria Khan

10 ponds to be revived in Greater Noida over encroachment fears

The Rotary Club of Delhi South has been given the responsibility to revive the water bodies in Greater Noida, said Greater Noida authority officials

According to the authority, one pond each from 10 villages of Bhola Rawal, Dhoom Manikpur, Khedi, Kulipura, Girdharpur, Panchayatan, Rauni, Chirasi, Bhanauta and Saini, under work circles 2 and 8, will undergo rejuvenation. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 16, 2024 05:26 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Greater Noida

Gautam Budh Nagar: District admin seek status report on waterbodies, encroachment

To curb the encroachment in floodplains of Yamuna and Hindon rivers, officials have been directed to keep a constant vigil in the restricted areas to prevent such activities

As per the revenue department records, there are a total 1,018 water bodies registered across the district. As many as 211 water bodies have been reeling under encroachments of residential establishments that have been developed by the locals. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 14, 2024 06:44 AM IST

ByMaria Khan

Inspections revealed illegal construction in Noida, 47 villages of G Noida, NGT told

NGT had, in April this year, issued notices to Centre, Uttar Pradesh government and local authorities in the matter

Noida

Updated on Jul 13, 2024 06:00 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida/greater Noida

Prosecute agencies, industries for discharge of untreated waste into Hindon, NGT tells pollution watchdog

The NGT bench directed that in the next report, the quantity and quality of sewage flowing in such drains and their confluence point with Hindon and other tributaries should be provided to it

There are 55 identified drains of which, 26 meet Hindon directly and 17 others meet Hindon through its tributaries Dhamola and Krishni. (HT Archive)

Noida

Updated on Jul 11, 2024 06:00 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida/ghaziabad

Noida: Six developers fined ₹5 lakh each for illegal groundwater use

The sites where developers were identified to be extracting groundwater illegally are located in sectors 153, 154 and 156, groundwater department officials said

Noida

Updated on Jul 11, 2024 05:54 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

‘Smart village’ in Greater Noida inundated after rain, residents demand wider drains, road repairs

Residents of Tilpata said the village, which is one of 10 to 12 villages to be declared smart village, has not seen any development and sanitation problems continue to plague residents. Even the road infrastructure is poor in some pockets, said residents

The Surajpur-Dadri road is completely damaged, pothole riddled and waterlogged, giving a tough time to commuters, residents said. (Ht Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 10, 2024 06:26 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Greater Noida

Surajpur factory premises sealed by forest department over rampant felling of trees

As the tree cutting continued unabated without procuring any permission from the forest department, the premises have been sealed, said forest officials

The district administration officials, forest officials and police personnel were present at the time of sealing on Tuesday. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 10, 2024 06:20 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Greater Noida

Noida: Power discom disconnects supply at Bhangel CHC canteen

Discom officials said they were receiving complaints that the canteen was using electricity without having a metered connection, and inspections revealed that it was true

Patients being administered treatment under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) scheme at the facility had alleged that they were forced to purchase food from outside. The operator, however, denied the allegations. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 09, 2024 06:52 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

Noida: Bhangel health centre officials point out poor food at canteen

However, the facility, Prerna Canteen, which provides meals to patients under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) scheme, denied the allegations

The health centre is located on the premises of the 30-bed maternity and child hospital and the canteen caters to both the facilities. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 07, 2024 06:14 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

GB Nagar DM meets kin of Hathras victims in Greater Noida, assures assistance

The families were informed that a thorough investigation was ongoing and necessary action was being taken to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs in the future

As of Friday, six people were arrested in connection with the stampede, according to IG, Shalabh Mathur, Aligarh Range. An investigation in currently underway. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 06, 2024 05:42 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Greater Noida

Noida: Sector 117 residents object to dumping of drain silt in their locality

Public health officials clarified that the inconvenience caused is temporary and soon remedial measures will be taken

Residents say that the garbage and silt pulled out from drains of other localities are being transported and dumped at a vacant plot in their locality, leading to a foul smell permeating the entire neighbourhood. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 06, 2024 05:34 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

Noida: Gazebo, Guard room to come up at Sectors 51, 50 parks

The horticulture department recently surveyed the two areas to identify suitable places to develop the facilities, and officials say the work will soon commence.

In Sector 51’s Meghdootam park, residents said it was tough visiting the park during adverse weather conditions and Sector 50‘s Block D park lacks a security guard room for the convenience of guards posted there. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 06, 2024 05:32 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

Hathras stampede: Two Dadri women admitted to Noida hospital

Necessary medical examinations have been conducted and as a precautionary measure, the two women have been admitted to the ICU

On Tuesday (July 2), the stampede at the religious congregation killed 122 people and left several others injured, in Hathras, the devotees, mostly women and children, suffocated to death and bodies were piled atop each other. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 05, 2024 06:10 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

Rape accused tries to escape police custody, injured in police firing

The police vehicle in which Kumar was being taken tripped over something and the driver lost control of the vehicle briefly near Delhi-Saharanpur road. Taking advantage of the situation, Kumar snatched the service revolver of one of the personnel accompanying him and fled the spot

The suspect fled after snatching a policeman’s revolver. He was later rearrested following a brief gunfight, said police. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 04, 2024 05:12 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Ghaziabad

Punjab-based pharmaceutical company booked for producing ‘substandard’ antibiotics

The medicine ‘AZitas (azithromycin)’ which is commonly used to treat infections, was being sold at the medical stores operating in Gautam Budh Nagar, and was found to be of ‘substandard’ quality during assessment, informed officials

Inspections are ongoing under the directions of the food safety and drug administration of GB Nagar to ensure that only medicines that meet safety standards are sold. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 04, 2024 05:08 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

Month-long fogging drive kicks off in Noida to combat vector-borne diseases

Under the drive, teams comprising 52 health workers will carry out fogging and anti-larvae spraying across Noida

Noida

Updated on Jul 02, 2024 10:32 PM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

Sanitation workers’ commission orders formation of panel to probe death of 3 workers at MNC sewage plant

On June 24, three maintenance workers -- Mohit (24) of Greater Noida, Hari Govind (26) of Kanpur and Ankit Kumar (21) of Mathura -- died by drowning after falling into the septic tank of the STP while on duty

Commission president M Venkatesan, and secretary Rahul Kashyap conducted inspections on Monday of the sewage treatment plant located in the basement of Coforge Digital IT Solutions in TechZone Sector (HT Photo)

Noida

Published on Jul 02, 2024 10:28 PM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

FDA to launch drive in school, college canteens to ensure food safety

The administration decided to embark on such a drive after incidents of food poisoning and substandard meals were reported in Noida and Greater Noida

The random inspections and checks will be conducted in both urban and rural parts of the district. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 02, 2024 06:52 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

Spruced up schools greet students after summer break in GB Nagar

The gesture was part of the “School Chalo Abhiyan”, a campaign to ensure 100% enrolment in government schools under the UP Basic Education Council

The students were welcomed with an offering of sweets, officials interacted with the children and asked them about their interests and favourite subjects as students returned with great enthusiasm. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jul 02, 2024 06:38 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

Noida on toes to tackle waterlogging, stagnant water from city pockets drained out

Among the waterlogged areas, Sectors 95, 77, 44, and 110 have been cleared out, along with major underpasses and culverts

Several areas, however, remain waterlogged, such as Brahmputra Market in Sector 19, the area opposite Logix Mall, Sector 100, the area opposite Fortis Hospital in Sector 62, Sectors 58, 59, 77 and 110, and Phase 2. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jun 30, 2024 06:02 AM IST

ByMaria Khan, Noida

GB Nagar: Rain, thunderstorm bring respite from sweltering heat; AQI improves

With temperatures plummeting, it made the afternoon turn cooler, which was a welcome change from the scorching heat and humidity of the past two months

Noida

Updated on Jun 29, 2024 06:40 AM IST

ByMaria Khan

GB Nagar: Massive cleanliness drive before school kids return from vacations

Officials have been asked to ensure the school premises are cleaned few days prior to the reopening while a report on the works done has been also sought

Officials have also been directed to expedite the renovation work being carried out under the corporate social responsibility initiative and develop the schools into “model schools” incorporating smart classes, science laboratories, among other facilities. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jun 28, 2024 06:08 AM IST

ByMaria Khan

GB Nagar: Himachal drug makers booked over sub-standard medicines

A recent inspection conducted across medical stores in Gautam Budh Nagar revealed that the two medicines were “sub-standard” or “adulterated”

Manufacturing and selling drugs ‘unfit’ for consumption is a violation of Section 18 (prohibition of manufacture and sale of certain drugs and cosmetics) and is a punishable offence under Section 27 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. (HT Photo)

Noida

Updated on Jun 28, 2024 06:04 AM IST

ByMaria Khan

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Maria Khan

The urban local bodies have been directed to ensure arrangements are in place while departments have commenced repairing roads

The move came following an environmental activist apprising various local government bodies about issuance of tenders for rainwater harvesting in parks of Noida

The RWA representatives took out a march as a protest from parts of Greater Noida to the authority office in Knowledge Park 4 to raise their demands

They said the dewatering exercise was being carried out at the construction sites in sectors 153, 154 and 129 in Noida

Danger signs and caution tapes were affixed on power poles, besides fencing around unsafe transformers, said officials

As many as 33 group housing societies were found to be allegedly extracting groundwater illegally in 2023 in Greater Noida West. An environmental compensation of ₹306 crore was also levied by the committee on the errant developers

The damaged portions, located in Block C and D, let the stray cattle enter the locality as well as strangers from Hajipur and adjacent areas to venture around

The Rotary Club of Delhi South has been given the responsibility to revive the water bodies in Greater Noida, said Greater Noida authority officials

To curb the encroachment in floodplains of Yamuna and Hindon rivers, officials have been directed to keep a constant vigil in the restricted areas to prevent such activities

NGT had, in April this year, issued notices to Centre, Uttar Pradesh government and local authorities in the matter

The NGT bench directed that in the next report, the quantity and quality of sewage flowing in such drains and their confluence point with Hindon and other tributaries should be provided to it

The sites where developers were identified to be extracting groundwater illegally are located in sectors 153, 154 and 156, groundwater department officials said

Residents of Tilpata said the village, which is one of 10 to 12 villages to be declared smart village, has not seen any development and sanitation problems continue to plague residents. Even the road infrastructure is poor in some pockets, said residents

As the tree cutting continued unabated without procuring any permission from the forest department, the premises have been sealed, said forest officials

Discom officials said they were receiving complaints that the canteen was using electricity without having a metered connection, and inspections revealed that it was true

However, the facility, Prerna Canteen, which provides meals to patients under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) scheme, denied the allegations

The families were informed that a thorough investigation was ongoing and necessary action was being taken to ensure that such a tragedy never occurs in the future

Public health officials clarified that the inconvenience caused is temporary and soon remedial measures will be taken

The horticulture department recently surveyed the two areas to identify suitable places to develop the facilities, and officials say the work will soon commence.

Necessary medical examinations have been conducted and as a precautionary measure, the two women have been admitted to the ICU

The police vehicle in which Kumar was being taken tripped over something and the driver lost control of the vehicle briefly near Delhi-Saharanpur road. Taking advantage of the situation, Kumar snatched the service revolver of one of the personnel accompanying him and fled the spot

The medicine ‘AZitas (azithromycin)’ which is commonly used to treat infections, was being sold at the medical stores operating in Gautam Budh Nagar, and was found to be of ‘substandard’ quality during assessment, informed officials

Under the drive, teams comprising 52 health workers will carry out fogging and anti-larvae spraying across Noida

On June 24, three maintenance workers -- Mohit (24) of Greater Noida, Hari Govind (26) of Kanpur and Ankit Kumar (21) of Mathura -- died by drowning after falling into the septic tank of the STP while on duty

The administration decided to embark on such a drive after incidents of food poisoning and substandard meals were reported in Noida and Greater Noida

The gesture was part of the “School Chalo Abhiyan”, a campaign to ensure 100% enrolment in government schools under the UP Basic Education Council

Among the waterlogged areas, Sectors 95, 77, 44, and 110 have been cleared out, along with major underpasses and culverts

With temperatures plummeting, it made the afternoon turn cooler, which was a welcome change from the scorching heat and humidity of the past two months

Officials have been asked to ensure the school premises are cleaned few days prior to the reopening while a report on the works done has been also sought

A recent inspection conducted across medical stores in Gautam Budh Nagar revealed that the two medicines were “sub-standard” or “adulterated”

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