Noida, June 3 -- The Noida authority on Monday ordered an inquiry into its civil department after residents of housing societies in sectors 92, 93, and 82 along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway raised a public outcry on Friday, saying that department staff were building a concrete cremation shed in the Biodiversity Park in Sector 91-a designated international wildlife attraction. The authority on Monday halted construction of the shed on a 1-acre site within the 75-acre Biodiversity Park. Officials said the cremation ground violates urban town planning norms, as 30 acres of the park will be used for a zoo and night safari, where deer will be imported from zoos in Kanpur, Hyderabad, Lucknow, and even Africa. However, Noida came into existence only in 1976, and the site had been used as a cremation ground for decades before that by nearby village residents. "We have sought a detailed report on this issue, as the area is earmarked for an international wildlife attraction. Deer will be brought in from abroad. A cremation ground cannot be allowed at this location," said Lokesh M, chief executive officer of the Noida authority. On Monday, Gautam Budh Nagar sub-divisional magistrate Vivekanand Mishra and his team visited the site to submit a report to senior officials about the cremation shed being built in the ecologically sensitive area. Residents of Gejha village said they need facilities such as the concrete shed. "This is an old cremation ground for our and neighbouring villages. We demand a permanent shed so cremations can take place during monsoon. We've been using this space for cremations since before Noida even came into being," said Bharat Awana, a farmer from Gejha village. The Noida authority had in May issued a Rs.40 crore tender to develop a deer park and sunset safari in the Biodiversity Park. "How can these two projects coexist at the same location? How can the authority issue a tender to build a deer park and also construct a shed for an old cremation ground that has been lying unused for many years?" said Rudra Pratap Singh, a resident of Sector 135 and a regular visitor to the Biodiversity Park. "While the cremation ground is old and has served the villages, very few cremations have taken place here in recent years as there are cremation grounds in Sector 94 and other areas for the public. So the one here should be relocated," said Ankur Bagley, a resident of Sector 92....