Over 4,000 homebuyers are expected to be affected as the pollution control board has advised that the construction of four residential projects be halted immediately, as the builders have failed to obtain the mandatory environmental clearances. Inspections were conducted at Ascon Pride Villa, Purushottam Estate, Dwarika City, and Sahara Enclave, which cover an area of more than 20,000 sq m, following a complaint submitted by a Ghaziabad resident, Rajendra Tyagi, to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on December 9. The complaint raised concerns about illegal construction activities at five projects. The petitioner alleged that unauthorised construction activities were taking place in 18 villages in Noida and over 55 villages in Greater Noida. The petition stated that nearly 1.50 lakh villas had been built or were under construction in these villages, with over 1,100 colonies emerging as well. It also pointed out that similar unauthorized constructions were widespread in areas governed by the Yamuna Expressway authority. In November, show-cause notices were issued to five projects, and only one of them in Surajpur Site C was able to present NOCs issued by the pollution control board, according to UPPCB's regional officer (Greater Noida), DK Gupta. Following this, the UPPCB sent a letter to its Lucknow headquarters recommending the suspension of construction at these projects. Officials confirmed that closure orders have already been issued for Ascon Pride Villa. UPPCB officials stated that the builders of the other four projects had sold plots, villas, and flats without obtaining layout approvals. Additionally, the groundwater department is expected to inspect the premises for unauthorised borewells.