Drinking water plan for VUDA areas postponed

VADODARA: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has applied brakes on its plans to provide drinking water to Vadodara Urban Development Authority (VUDA) areas from its upcoming Mahi-based Sindhrot water supply project.
The general board on Friday postponed a proposal in this regard after opposition Congress raised objections to it. In February, the standing committee cleared a proposal to provide 20 million litres water per day (MLD) to VUDA areas lying in the western part.
The VMC has begun work on the Rs 165.76 crore Sindhrot water supply scheme. VUDA had sought water from the VMC for the villages of Gorwa, Undera, Koyli, Ankodiya, Khanpur, Sherkhi, Sevasi, Mahapura, Gokalpura, Bhaili, Bil and others. The villages have seen realty development over the years, but sans project to cater to their present needs of water.
The Sindhrot water project is coming up under the central government’s AMRUT scheme.
Congress objected stating that if these areas were given water, even those near other water supply schemes may raise similar demands. It was also argued that the project was getting delayed and there was no need to come up with the proposal when t here was no certainty regarding its completion.