AEC restores power

AHMEDABAD, Oct 4: The Ahmedabad Electricity Company Ltd AEC on Monday restored round-the-clock power connections to the four municipali...

AHMEDABAD, Oct 4: The Ahmedabad Electricity Company Ltd AEC on Monday restored round-the-clock power connections to the four municipalities of Ghatlodia, Chandlodia, Kali and Ramol.

Power was restored and timers removed from waterworks following an assurance to the AEC from the State Government that the payment of power bill dues from these four municipalities would be worked out in a fortnight.

But the amicable solution did not materialise before Ghatlodia and its surrounding areas observed a total bandh on Monday morning. Localities as distant as Bhuyangdev, Ranna Park, Jantanagar, Sattadhar Society, Chanakyapuri and Chandlodia observed a bandh to press for removal of timers that cause erratic water supply. There was no untoward incident during the bandh.

Ghatlodia municipality president Falguni Bhatt said that with restoration of power to the civic body, the water problem would end. But Bhatt added that now 8220;a special tax recovery drive to ensure better compliance to improve the financial position will be started8221;. She said that once water supply was restored to normal, the people should pay up their tax dues.

The water and power problem had taken centrestrage following violent clashes between the municipality and Chanakyapuri residents on September 29 when a 500-strong mob stormed the municipality office, smashed furniture and windowpanes. Its president was escorted out to safety with great difficulty. The chief officer had resigned even before the incident and till date, no official is willing to take over this troubled municipal body due to its poor financial condition and hopeless recovery prospects.

Raghu Desai, former president of the Ghatlodia municipality who spearheaded the popular agitation for water supply in the town, said the bandh would be withdrawn as soon the power connection was restored 8220;but our fight for getting 50 per cent subsidy on monthly power bills stands because no municipality can pay up such huge bills given the meagre income sources8221;.

Desai said the civic body would soon publish advertisements asking the people to pay up taxes on time. He was told by AEC officials that the AEC was ready to accept payment of power bills pending since April in instalments.

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In Kali, the nearby municipality, Congress workers took out a march to the municipality office for removal of timers. Municipality president Chitraben Trivedi pointed out that the issue had been settled the previous night. She said it would be better if the municipality was merged with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation because against its annual income of around Rs 30 lakh, its power bill alone amounted to Rs 65 lakh per annum.

AEC8217;s Vice-President Personnel and Administration Babubhai Patel said power connections were restored following government intervention, adding that the AEC had been given an assurance regarding payment of dues and a stable mechanism for future payments.