Noida Techie Drowns: Decade-Old Plan, Apathy Led to Death Pond Tragedy

• Yuvraj Mehta, a 27-year-old software engineer, drowned in a waterlogged trench in Noida's Sector 150, highlighting long-standing civic failures.
• The trench, originally for a private mall, became a dangerous pond due to years of neglect and lack of a proper drainage outlet to the Hindon river.
• A stormwater management plan, including a 'head regulator' to divert water, was proposed in 2015 but never implemented despite surveys, designs, and inter-departmental communication.
• Delays were caused by increased water discharge from new residential sectors, requiring design changes and additional funding requests, leaving a revised report pending.
• Following Mehta's death, authorities have promised swift action, with work on the Rs 10.5 crore head regulator expected to begin within a week, aiming for completion before monsoon.

Why It Matters: A techie's death in Noida exposes severe civic apathy and a decade-long failure to implement a crucial stormwater plan.