VADODARA, Aug 10: The alleged nepotism of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) in effecting demolitions, lack of co-ordination among government agencies and use of special powers by the Municipal Commissioner were the key issues which dominated proceedings of the General Board on Monday.Congress councillor Chinnam Gandhi asked why several buildings on the R C Dutt Road which did not have completion certificates were not razed and only one laundry was targeted. Gandhi said in some buildings people stayed in the parking slots.Shailesh Mehta of Congress said despite several letters, no action had been taken against Indraprasth Complex on Waghodia Road which had made unauthorised construction and alleged that an MLA had interfered in it.Anuj Patel, former Standing Committee chairman, regretted huge pieces of land was yet to be acquired from the Army to widen the Danteshwar-Pratapnagar Road. Patel expressed surprise that the VMC had to lay another road at a cost of nearly Rs 4 crore as the EME was to close the EME Road. The councillor said it was ironical that civilians could be allowed to play at the EME golf course after passing from the EME Road, but they could not use the same road for traffic purpose as it is likely to hinder the activity of militarymen.When the discussion on widening of the Nava Bazaar Road came up, Gandhi said the Corporation should have been alert to file a caveat. He was speaking in connection with a stay order against widening the road. Chandrakant Shrivastav of Lokshahi Morcha said there was no need to reduce the proposed width for widening when the Board had approved in 1967. He demanded that constructions in the road margin be razed only in case of emergency if the VMC was not to adopt uniform standards in all cases.He also urged the VMC to demolish a chimney in dilapidated condition on the Pratanagar road. He also brought to the notice of the VMC an unauthorised construction in Daliawadi, where an alleged construction had taken place on more built up area than permitted. Nirmala Gandhi of the BJP alleged that a large number of constructions had come up on cemeteries for the Muslims.It was unfair on the VMC's part to sever drainage and water connections of people having petty outstanding property tax, said Congress councillor Chirag Zhaveri. He said instead the VMC should recover crores of rupees which he claimed were outstanding against government, semi-government, central government agencies and industries.Telecom dues: Anuj Patel demanded that until the Telecom Department paid all the dues, Mayor Bharati Vyas should not release the new telephone directory. The function is to be held on Tuesday.When Vyas said the VMC was trying to co-ordinate, Patel questioned how could co-ordination be possible if the Telecom Department and the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) did not co-operate. Patel also sought to know whether the GEB had taken permission to install electricity poles on the roads.Zhaveri alleged that the civic chiefs used special powers under section 67 (C) as per their whims and fancies. He lamented that the powers were not used for repairing sewage pumping stations in Manjalpur.In connection with special use of powers, alleging irregularities were committed in laying the Narhari road and Uma crossroad-Nalanda Road, Shrivastav demanded an inquiry.
