Vadodara municipal corpn to raze slum near Gotri pond

Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has issued a public notice for a razing drive in Gotri. The civic body plans to clear the slums located within 40 m of the Gotri pond for its development.
The notice has been given considering that the settlement known as Ramdevnagar Slums has been a major source of pollution in the pond.
Garbage, sewage and other material was being dumped into the pond by those residing in the slums.It adds that as per the law the VMC was responsible for the maintenance of water bodies. The high court as well as the Supreme Court had also given clear directives in this regard.
The notice states that the civic body could take up the razing of such drives without issuing such a notice.
But, it adds, the civic body was also working towards a slum-free city and providing alternative housing and the residents could approach the VMC for houses in various schemes for the urban poor in the city.
The work on the development of the pond has already begun and part of it has been completed. The civic body will be spending over Rs six crore on the project.