VMC wants discharge schedule

Sources said the industries8217; habit of releasing effluent at odd hours had unprompted the VMC to serve the notices. Because of this practice, civic staff were rarely able to detect anything objectionable in the effluent.

The notices were issued even as the industries issued notices earlier to share the cost of upgrading two sewage treatment plants have started to represent their cases before the VMC. The deadline for the reply ends on August 7. As many as 49 industries of the city will have to contribute Rs 4.30 crore towards upgradation.

When contacted, Executive Engineer Drainage Project Shailesh Mistry said some of the industries had told the VMC there was no point in paying the Corporation as they had already deposited one per cent of their turnover to the Gujarat High Court in connection with a pollution case. One of the units said that it need not share the expenses as it had installed one of the best available effluent treatment plants.

A group of industrialists on Tuesday said that contributions should be sought from other industries and hotels as well.

In the meantime, the VMC has updated its records in connection with chemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, textile, engineering and galvanising units that require periodic monitoring.