Industry not paying VMC

VADODARA, Nov 11: Industrial units are ignoring Vadodara Municipal Corporation's November 20 deadline for contribution of Rs 4.40 crore t...

VADODARA, Nov 11: Industrial units are ignoring Vadodara Municipal Corporation8217;s November 20 deadline for contribution of Rs 4.40 crore towards upgrading sewage treatment plants.

The 49 industrial units allegedly release untreated effluent into the city8217;s sewers, and had agreed to pay for the damage done. But now, P.N. Raval, chairman of the committee formed by the industries to look into the matter, says, 8220;Industries will not pay the total amount, as Gujarat High Court in its directive had asked the industries and VMC to share the amount proportionately.8221;

After waiting for over three months for a concrete response from the industries, the VMC last week issued an ultimatum asking the industries to pay the amount by November 20.

However, on Thursday, Raval maintained that industries had not received the ultimatum, and reiterated that there was no question of paying the full amount.

About the upgradation of the Atladara Sewage Treatment Plant, Raval alleged that VMC had sought more money than was actually spent for the work.

He maintained that the industries have been able to convince the other industries to a pay share the amount. 8220;Irrespective of the High Court directive, it is our duty to share the responsibility,8221; Raval stated. If this happens, over 200 industries would be contributing towards the upgradation of the treatment plants. While Atladara and Gajrawadi treatment plants have been upgraded, the work on Tarsali plant is expected to begin in near future.

In a memorandum submitted to Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria on August 17, the committee put forth these issues.

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The industries had also sought time to convince other industries and rework on the cost estimates worked out by the VMC. The industries wanted even the goldsmiths and hoteliers to contribute.

According to Raval, it was ironical that on one hand VMC laboratory reports state that certain industries are closed and on the other hand the very same industries have been asked to contribute. The VMC, on the other hand, maintains that the industries have been asked to pay for damaging drains at a particular point of time.

To this, the committee contends that from such industries, VMC has already recovered surcharge from time to time.