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Journalism of Courage
VADODARA, April 7: Vadodara Municipal Corporation VMC Opposition leader Kanchanbhai Parmar and former deputy mayor Chirag Zaveri, both Congress councillors, have called for an inquiry by Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria into the alleged illegal undertaking of developmental works at the Gujarat Housing Board GHB colony in Gotri by councillors of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation VMC using their quota and fodwari allocations.
In a letter to the civic chief on Tuesday, the leaders pointed out that during the discussions at recent general board meetings on councillors using their budgetary allocations for undertaking developmental works on private property, both Aloria and Deputy Municipal Commissioner I B Peerzada had specified that such works could not be undertaken by councillors under the BPMC Act provisions.
Stating that it was a 8220;shameful matter8221; if the works had been executed with the commissioner being kept in the dark, the leaders demanded that Aloria furnish them with details on who gave the permission for the works within seven days.
Incidentally, the Standing Committee on Tuesday had postponed its decision regarding the municipal commissioner8217;s proposal to undertake developmental works, including laying storm water drains and sewage pipelines, at an estimated cost of Rs 6.44 lakhs in a GHB colony in Atladara. Aloria had also asked the Committee to fix guidelines for undertaking of projects on private property by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation.
According to reliable sources, the proposal had irked some Committee members who questioned Aloria8217;s earlier announcement, thus, leading to the deferment. The sources add that the proposal was an exception made by the Commissioner considering the persistent demand for undertaking of the works in Atladara by BJP councillor Khodabhai Bharwad, who had fallen unconscious after reiterating his plea for the same at the last general board meeting.
Aloria could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.
Clerk removed: In an evident bid to discipline its staff, the administrative wing of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation on Wednesday removed a junior clerk, Sunil Vara, while also levying fines from its food inspectors and more than 100 other employees.
Vara was charged with making STD calls amounting to more than Rs 10,000 and not repaying the bills for the same. The clerk had been served a show cause notice by Deputy Municipal Commissioner H S Patel. After considering his explanation for the same, the administration announced the his 8220;removal.8221;
The administration also levied fines of Rs 500 each from four food inspectors, Rs 100 each from 91 employees and Rs 500 each from 15 others on the charges of dereliction of duty and late-arrival on duty.
