By: Bharat Daily Samachar Date: 29 Sep,2025

Noida and Greater Noida Residents Struggle as Choked Sewers Flood Homes, Triggering Health Fears

Even though the monsoon season has ended, residents of Noida and Greater Noida continue to face a crisis that refuses to go away — choked sewers and overflowing drains. The persistent problem has turned once-busy residential sectors into waterlogged zones, with sewage spilling onto streets and even entering homes. The unsanitary conditions have sparked outrage among citizens, health concerns among families, and urgent calls for action from Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs).

Overflowing Sewers: The Daily Struggle

The areas worst affected include Sector 51 in Noida and Alpha 2 in Greater Noida, where residents say the problem has been ongoing for weeks. Streets that should be safe and walkable have turned into dirty streams, carrying untreated sewage right into people’s homes.

Sanjeev Kumar, RWA general secretary for Sector 51 (blocks C to F), explained how deeply the issue has impacted daily life. “In several houses, especially at C-154, sewage has flooded the basement repeatedly. The family living there has had to pump out filthy water almost every day,” Kumar said.

The consequences are more than just inconvenience. Kumar added that one resident had recently been diagnosed with dengue and is now hospitalized, with doctors linking the illness to the unhygienic living conditions caused by the sewer overflow. Other families in the sector have also reported cases of fever, skin infections, and stomach-related illnesses.

Greater Noida Faces Similar Woes

The problem is not limited to Noida. In Alpha 2, Greater Noida, residents have reported equally severe sewage overflows. NP Singh, general secretary of the Alpha 2 RWA, said that despite repeated complaints to the authorities, the issue remains unresolved. “Every time we raise the concern, we are told that cleaning work is being carried out. But the results are not visible. Sewage continues to flow onto the streets, making it unsafe for children to play and for residents to step outside their homes,” Singh said.

Why the Sewers Keep Choking

Experts point out that the crisis is not simply about seasonal rain but a systemic failure in drainage maintenance. During monsoon months, stormwater drains often carry debris, plastic waste, and construction material into the sewer lines. Without regular cleaning and monitoring, these materials accumulate and block the flow.

Ideally, desilting and cleaning drives should be conducted both before and after the monsoon season. However, residents claim that such work has either been done half-heartedly or not done at all in certain pockets. The result: sewage water has nowhere to go except onto the roads and into basements.

Health Hazards Multiply

Overflowing sewage is not just a matter of foul smell or inconvenience — it poses a serious public health risk. Stagnant sewage becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. The dirty water also carries harmful bacteria that can trigger gastrointestinal diseases, including diarrhea and typhoid.

Doctors in the area have warned that prolonged exposure to such conditions could lead to a spike in vector-borne and water-borne diseases. For children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems, the risks are even higher.

Residents Demand Action

Frustrated by the lack of permanent solutions, RWAs have demanded that the Noida Authority and Greater Noida Authority take urgent steps. “We cannot continue living like this. It is not just about comfort but about survival. Families are falling sick, and the authorities must be held accountable,” Sanjeev Kumar emphasized.

RWAs have suggested several measures:

• Regular desilting of drains at scheduled intervals.

• Deployment of emergency response teams in high-risk areas.

• Upgrading old sewer pipelines that cannot handle the growing population.

• Public awareness drives to prevent residents from dumping waste into drains.

Administrative Response

Officials from both the Noida and Greater Noida Authorities have acknowledged the complaints but maintain that cleaning drives are being conducted. However, residents argue that these are short-term solutions that fail to address the underlying issue.

Urban planning experts suggest that the authorities need to adopt a more long-term approach, which includes expanding the capacity of existing drainage systems, enforcing stricter rules against waste dumping, and investing in sustainable urban infrastructure.

Lessons from Other Cities

Other metropolitan cities in India, such as Bengaluru and Mumbai, have faced similar crises and have experimented with partial solutions like mechanized sewer cleaning, smart water-flow monitoring, and real-time complaint tracking systems. If implemented in Noida and Greater Noida, such measures could provide better accountability and faster response times.

The Human Cost

For now, the situation continues to take a heavy toll on residents. Families are forced to live with the constant fear of illness, ruined furniture, and property damage. Daily activities like sending children to school or stepping out for work have become challenging as people navigate through sewage-filled lanes.

As one resident from Alpha 2 put it, “We pay taxes, we pay maintenance charges, but what are we getting in return? We cannot even breathe fresh air in our own homes.”

Conclusion

The crisis of overflowing sewers in Noida’s Sector 51 and Greater Noida’s Alpha 2 is a stark reminder of how urban neglect directly impacts human lives. It is not just about infrastructure; it is about dignity, health, and safety. Unless the authorities act with urgency and vision, these problems will persist, making residents pay the price with their health and well-being.

For a city aspiring to be part of India’s smart urban future, dirty water in basements and sewage on roads is simply unacceptable. The people of Noida and Greater Noida deserve better, and they are demanding nothing less.