Bandh call forces minister,collectorate to take quick action in Viramgam

The protestors said a three-day bandh will be observed from July 6 if their demands are not met. The bandh was total and according to Viramgam Chamber of Commerce leader D K Patel,the minister was forced to hold an urgent meeting on the pressing civic issues with Collectorate officials. Anandiben also announced some measures in consultation with district Collectorate officials.

The district Collectorate asked Municipal Commissioner I P Gautam to urgently send a team of safai workers in the area. According to Deputy Municipal Commissioner I K Patel,a 45-member team reached the place on Saturday to carry out a two-day cleanliness drive in the area.

D K Patel said the town suffered from utter neglect under the ruling BJP.

“No one bothers about our long-pending problems like road repairs and cleanliness. Even the local MLA has not visited the constituency for long,” he said.

He said one good thing was the transfer of the road maintenance work from nagarpalika to state highways department. He added: “When the enrollment programme flopped,the minister called us and assured us of quick action to resolve the issues.”

When asked about the reason for his absence in the function,Viramgam MLA Kamabhai Rathod said: “With permission from in-charge minister (Anandiben) I have come to Mumbai for treatment of my wife.”

At the meet,it was also decided that the state government will release grant for the development of the historical Munsar lake and that the mud removal work will be handed over to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

District Collectorate sources said the transfer of the chief officer was ordered by the Urban Development Department.

Villagers protest filing of atrocity case,give bandh call
In a bid to protest against the filing of an atrocity case lodged against some people,residents of Muval village in Padra taluka of Vadodara district called a bandh on Saturday. According to the details available,on Friday evening,one Kamlesh Rohit,a resident of Rohit Vaas in Muval village,refused to accommodate Khodabhai Rana and others in his chhakda (auto rickshaw). This led to a scuffle and Kamlesh lodged a complaint under the Atrocity Act. Following the complaint,the darbars of the village called a bandh on Saturday alleging that Kamlesh was deliberately filing complaints against darbars under the Atrocity Act.

Shops in the village remained closed and senior taluka-level officials along with police officers rushed to the spot to prevent any flare-up.

Dy SP (SC/SC Cell) K P Gajipura,said: “It was a petty issue,but as the complaint was filed under the Atrocity Act,we were bound to lodge it,which was probably not liked by the villagers. We went to the village in the morning and spoke to the residents. By 11 am,they agreed to open their shops. Now the situation is normal,but to prevent any flare-up,we have posted our men at the sensitive points in the village.”