VMC disconnects 18 gas connections in city

In a drive to penalise defaulters who have not paid their gas connection bills, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s gas department has disconnected a large number of connections and collected a massive fine.

Officials said the defaulters had been given several reminders to pay the bills before the connections were disconnected

In a drive to penalise defaulters who have not paid their gas connection bills, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s (VMC) gas department has disconnected a large number of connections and collected a massive fine.

Senior VMC officials said the drive will continue for some time, as the number of defaulters is huge.

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“Till Saturday, we have sealed at least 18 gas connections in different parts of Vadodara and there are many more such cases in the city. Moreover, a large number of bills are pending from the commercial connections,” said a VMC official.

The connections include 10 residential and eight commercial ones. Officials said the defaulters had been given several reminders to pay the bills before the connections were disconnected.

“It is important for us to stop the irregularities because we will be giving about 4,000 new gas connections in the coming days. If stern action is not taken against the defaulters, it would become difficult for us to manage the situation with such a large consumer base,” the official said.

Meanwhile, as many as 123 properties were sealed by VMC officials for non payment of taxes. The seals were opened only after 59 owners paid the taxes, amounting to Rs 8 lakh.