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Journalism of Courage
VADODARA, Dec 2: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has threatened to take disciplinary action against members of the Technical Staff Association if they go on mass casual leave on December 16. Nearly 250 members are protesting against the suspension of two officers in connection with a demolition in Manekpark, Karelibaug a fortnight ago.
A statement on Wednesday stated that the strike notice was unauthorised as the proposal to proceed on leave was not approved by 70 per cent members. The statement said the association did not submit a proposal nor 50 per cent members were present in its meeting, which is mandatory, to decide about the leave.
The threat of disciplinary action comes even as the members on Wednesday intensified their protest by alleging that the administration had failed to give enough protection to the staff, which went to severe illegal water connections in Tarsali on Tuesday. Deputy Engineer Vinod Vedhani was beaten up by a mob and vehicles damaged. The association members told Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria that the Tarsali incident was the sixth in the last couple of years, where officers were beaten up by people.
Association members also shouted slogans demanding justice as the delegation led by councillor Chandrakant Shrivastav and other office-bearers were representing the matter to Aloria.
The members also demanded an inquiry into the demolition, alleging that money had changed hands.
Aloria has invited association leaders for talks on Saturday. An association spokesman told Express Newsline that if the talks failed, the members would on mass casual leave.
HUDCO aid: The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) has agreed in-principle to finance the VMC’s housing scheme for economically weaker sections. The civic body will construct 1,272 units in the first phase.
The approval was given during a meeting between Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria and HUDCO officers on Tuesday in Gandhinagar.
Inauguration: MUNICIPAL Commissioner G R Aloria on Wednesday inaugurated a training workshop, organised under the employment scheme of the VMC’s Urban Community Development (UCD) project. The programme has been jointly organised by the VMC and the All-India Institute of Local Self-Government. In his address, Aloria underlined the need for technical and employment-oriented courses. Among others, DyMC I B Peerzada and president of the Institute Dr Jatin Modi, were present on the occasion.
Workshop held: Using slurry made out of biological process can reduce the foul smell of the garbage, setting up incinerator to tackle hospital waste and installing mechanical compost plants to tackle organic waste were some of the suggestions which came up at a regional workshop on Solid Waste Management held in Mumbai recently.
Vadodara was represented by Mayor Bharati Vyas. The workshop was organised to deliberate on the suggestions given by the Committee set up on the instructions of the Supreme Court to tackle solid waste.
While a representation was made to clear all the legal problems coming in way from tackling solid waste, suggestions to ensure health of rag-pickers also figured in the workshop.
Appointments: The Vadodara Shaher Sudhrai Naukar Mandal has alleged that the administration’s proposal, regarding appointments of ward and revenue officers, to the Standing Committee was in violation of a Supreme Court’s order. Meanwhile, the Mandal will organise a convention on December 6, to address grievances of civic pensioners.
