Monkeys turn residents in Noida society into cages, authorities debate jurisdiction

With window grilles in place and balcony doors kept tightly shut, several homes in Gulshan Botania in Sector 144 have become difficult spaces for residents to live in as rhesus macaques freely move through the high-rise society. Residents say the recurring monkey menace has forced them to take precautions inside their homes, while repeated complaints to government departments have failed to produce a permanent solution, reports TOI.

The problem has become a regular concern for residents, who have shared photographs and videos of the damage on social media and frequently discuss the issue in the society’s WhatsApp group. Residents say they have approached multiple authorities, including the forest department and Noida Authority, but have not received a response.

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Monkey enters home and raids pantry

Soumya, a resident of the society, recently returned from a trip to find her home ransacked, as reported by TOI. After checking CCTV footage, she found that monkeys had entered the house.

“The monkeys managed to slide the balcony window, entered the home and raided the pantry. They consumed whatever was in their reach,” she said.

Residents say such incidents have contributed to growing anxiety about leaving homes unsecured, particularly when balcony windows or doors can be accessed by the animals.

Residents approach multiple authorities

Residents have repeatedly tried to raise the issue through official channels. Arti Gupta, another resident, said emails had been sent to the forest department, Noida Authority, the district magistrate of Noida and several other officials.

“We have sent emails to the forest department, Noida Authority, district magistrate of Noida and several other people but have never obtained a response,” Gupta told TOI.

The residents have also filed repeated complaints through the Jansunvai portal, but said these efforts have not resulted in a solution.

The uncertainty is not limited to residents. Confusion over which authority has jurisdiction to deal with monkeys has also persisted within administrative circles. Monkeys have not been included on the scheduled list of wildlife since 2022, allowing the forest department to refuse to handle them.

Court examines responsibility for monkey menace

Advocate Akash Vashishtha, who represents petitioners in a PIL before the Allahabad High Court concerning the monkey menace in Uttar Pradesh, said the question of jurisdiction and the role of different authorities had been discussed before the court.

According to Vashishtha, the state constituted a 13-member committee on July 15 to recommend long-term measures to address the issue. He said the court had directed urban local bodies to continue catching monkeys and translocating them to safer locations away from urban areas.

Residents of Gulshan Botania have also hired private monkey catchers on several occasions. However, they said they do not know where the animals are taken after being caught.

“We are not aware where these monkey catchers leave them because after a few days, they are back in the society and often more aggressive,” Gupta said.

Noida Authority had planned private agency for monkey capture

Earlier in January, the Noida Authority decided to hire a private agency to catch monkeys and relocate them to protected forest areas in Greater Noida.

“ A tender has been issued to hire an agency for catching unruly monkeys. The agency will install nets at identified locations and lure the animals with food. Once a monkey attempts to eat, the net will automatically lock,” an official associated with the Authority told TOI.

The official said the agency would be paid around Rs 500 to Rs 600 for catching each monkey. The cost of daily food supplies, including chana, moongfali and bananas, would be borne separately for each animal, adding to the overall expenditure.

General Manager (civil or public health-II), Noida Authority, Ashok Arora, declined to provide information on the matter, saying, “I am not looking into this department.”

Civic bodies responsible for short-term measures

During a recent hearing of the PIL, the Allahabad High Court noted that civic bodies were responsible for tackling the monkey problem as a short-term mitigation measure. In the case of Noida and Greater Noida, the responsibility lies with the respective authorities, the court noted.

The clarification comes as residents continue to seek a solution to repeated monkey incursions in their society.

Residents consider langur option but face legal question

Residents have also discussed whether keeping a langur within the society could help keep monkeys away. However, they remain uncertain whether such a measure would be legally permitted.

Vashishtha said a langur cannot legally be reared outside a forest because it is included on the scheduled wildlife list.

“We are aware of the hardships faced by common people and we have submitted a 34-point suggestion to the court,” he said.