VMC employee faces action

VADODARA, March 29: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation VMC has decided to initiate action against a shift operator of the Anandvan Auxi...

VADODARA, March 29: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation VMC has decided to initiate action against a shift operator of the Anandvan Auxiliary Sewage Pumping Station in Sama for leaving the place before the next shift operator took charge. This follows locking of the station by the ruling BJP councillor Pradip Joshi on Sunday evening on charges of lack of supervision by operators.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner Administration and also in-charge of north zone ward H S Patel told Express Newsline on Monday that a show cause notice would be issued to the shift operator, who left the place before the next operator came in.

Angered by 8220;negligence of the staff8221; at the pumping station in running the pumps and not following the eight-hour duty schedule, Joshi had locked the station.

8220;I know law cannot be taken in one8217;s hands but I took the action as a responsible councillor. If the VMC men are not at the station, there is every possibility that the pumps can be stolen,8221; Joshi told Express Newsline. 8220;In fact, even last year I had represented to the authorities in the context,8221; he added.

Admitting that the VMC has been receiving complaints about the staff at pumping stations in different parts of the city, Patel said action would be initiated. He said though the executive engineers have been asked to keep a check on them, a similar directive would be issued once again. Joshi said the failure to run the pumps from time to time had resulted in drainage choke ups in Sama, which in turn lead to contaminated water being received in Someshwar Society, VMS Flats and Sahyog tenaments.

About a fortnight ago, the VMC had diverted the drainage gravity line in the 1,200 mm diameter storm water drain for releasing sewage in river Vishwamitri, he stated.

8220;Although ideally this cannot be done, after doing so the operators should have at least run the pumps as per timings,8221; Joshi stated.

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The line was diverted after several societies in Sama, including the posh Dhanusya Society, complained of drainage choke ups when the pumps started.

The station does not have pressure line.

According to him, the VMC had still not laid a pressure and gravity line despite recommendation from Mumbai-based AIC Watson Company. This, he said, is despite the fact that in 1998 the Drainage and Standing Committees and, the General Board had passed the estimates worth Rs 1.50 crore. Joshi said now the department wants to construct another pumping station near Chhani and lay new lines at a cost of Rs 1.80 crore. According to Patel, in 1998 the work could not be undertaken due to some technical problem.

The Station has hence been opened.