New mayor wants computerisation in VMC

VADODARA, July 20: Newly elected Mayor Bharti Vyas has stressed the need to computerise records for effective co-ordination between the r...

VADODARA, July 20: Newly elected Mayor Bharti Vyas has stressed the need to computerise records for effective co-ordination between the road, drainage, water works and storm water drain departments.

Addressing reporters soon after she became the first woman Mayor of Vadodara on Monday, she observed that if the road department informed two months in advance the laying or carpeting of roads, other utility services like water, storm water drains and drainage lines could be laid before that.

8220;My first priority it to provide proper drainage, storm water drain, and water facilities along with keeping the city clean and tackling the solid waste problem,8221; Vyas said. Elaborating, she said long-term planning including providing a network of storm water drains and adequate sewage treatment plants were needed for which the corporation will have to approach the World Bank, Life Insurance Corporation LIC and Housing and Urban Development Corporation HUDCO.

Underlining the need for co-ordination between the administrative and elected wings, she said the concept of 8220;one window8221; should be encouraged and such outlets be provided in four different zones for people8217;s convenience.

Referring to solid waste, she said though the Vadodara Municipal Corporation VMC had earmarked Rs 1 crore to tackle the problem, Rs 3 crore were needed more. Upgrading the sewage treatment plants at Atladra and Gajrawadi and, setting up three new plants is expected to cost Rs 100 crore, she added.

Drawing surface water from Mahisagar and setting up filteration plant at Nimeta will cost Rs 65 crore, she said.

She also suggested widening 20 km roads to seven-and-a-half feet, for which the civic body would need Rs 3 crore.

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Stressing the need for women8217;s and children8217;s education, she said efforts would be made to provide better facilities by remaining in the purview of financial resources. Women8217;s and children8217;s upliftment through education is essential, she maintained, suggesting moral and ethical values should be taught by conducting special classes, thereby reviving guru-shishya parampara.

On the widening of the Nava Bazaar road, she said the matter was in the standing committee and needed to be discussed thoroughly. When asked the time frame she said there was no use giving a time period if it could not be met.

To a question whether the on-going demolition drive would continue, the Mayor said demolitions would be effected where unauthorised constructions hampered smooth flow of traffic. She said the traffic problem would be solved by effective co-ordination between the traffic police, the police department and the VMC.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Dinesh Chokshi said his would be a pro-active role to ensure that the administration became responsive and stepped up the pace of civic works.

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N V Patel, who was elected for the second time as Standing Committee chairman, said he would strive to make the administration more sensitive and accord priority to infrastructural development.

When questioned on a proposal to appoint an expert to plan for a 50 mgd filteration plant and another proposal to reduce the capacity by 25 mgd, when a consultant had already recommended a 50 mgd plant, he said with the 50 mgd plant the VMC was not sure whether it would provide enough water throughout the year, so a 25 mgd plant would do as well.