Opposition seeks details of construction on reserved land

Vadodara: The opposition in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) brought up the Vishwamitri project for discussion in the general board well before the formal meeting to discuss the project on Friday.The opposition sought to know if the constructions done on the land reserved for the project earlier would be removed. The project was discussed for several years, but concrete work never took place.Leader of Opposition Congress, Chandrakant Shrivastava, raised the issue of the reserved land and the constructions on it. The opposition, as well as environmental activists, blamed the encroachments in the river for the floods in the city.Another Congress councillor, Pushpa Waghela, pointed out that the project was being taken up as civic elections were due soon. She alleged that the details of the project were worked out by showing presentations to a select few persons.BJP councillor and standing committee member, Hemisha Thakkar, however, sought the opposition's cooperation in the project, saying it was in the interest of the city.The issue of VMC neglecting donors who were willing to contribute various items was also taken up by Congress councillor Haresh Patel from Chhani. He earlier alleged that a gas furnace for the Chhani crematorium was not being given a nod as it was routed through him by a donor.BJP's councillor Manish Pagar also pointed out that an NGO promoted by him wanted to put up an idol of Shivaji Maharaj. Pagar said the VMC was not giving permission for this even when it was a donation from the organisation.Vadodara: The opposition in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) brought up the Vishwamitri project for discussion in the general board well before the formal meeting to discuss the project on Friday.The opposition sought to know if the constructions done on the land reserved for the project earlier would be removed. The project was discussed for several years, but concrete work never took place.Leader of Opposition Congress, Chandrakant Shrivastava, raised the issue of the reserved land and the constructions on it. The opposition, as well as environmental activists, blamed the encroachments in the river for the floods in the city.Another Congress councillor, Pushpa Waghela, pointed out that the project was being taken up as civic elections were due soon. She alleged that the details of the project were worked out by showing presentations to a select few persons.BJP councillor and standing committee member, Hemisha Thakkar, however, sought the opposition's cooperation in the project, saying it was in the interest of the city.The issue of VMC neglecting donors who were willing to contribute various items was also taken up by Congress councillor Haresh Patel from Chhani. He earlier alleged that a gas furnace for the Chhani crematorium was not being given a nod as it was routed through him by a donor.BJP's councillor Manish Pagar also pointed out that an NGO promoted by him wanted to put up an idol of Shivaji Maharaj. Pagar said the VMC was not giving permission for this even when it was a donation from the organisation.