VMC: 13 of 24 General Meetings Delayed in 4 Months—How Will Issues Be Resolved?

The Vadodara Municipal Corporation holds a general meeting on the 20th of every month. In these meetings, councilors discuss unresolved issues regarding basic facilities in their respective areas. Additionally, other discussions also take place. Over the last four months, 24 general meetings have been scheduled, but 13 have been postponed due to the deaths of political leaders or other reasons. Currently, the monsoon is halfway through, but the city administrators, adhering to traditions, show no interest in discussing issues related to basic facilities and development. Notably, the Chief Minister of the state and the regional BJP President have expressed concern about Vadodara’s development.

Development Issues Raised by the Chief Minister

In March, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, during a function at the Din Dayal Nagrik Hall in Vadodara, questioned why Vadodara has lagged behind despite the development of Ahmedabad and Surat. Later, the regional BJP President, C.R. Patil, also mentioned in an interview that Vadodara has not received adequate attention. He asked why Vadodara, which started the development race with Surat 20 years ago, is now falling behind.

Tradition Established Years Ago

According to available information, years ago, the councilors of Vadodara Municipal Corporation collectively decided that if a current or former councilor or a prominent political leader from the state or central government passed away or if a major disaster occurred with a high death toll, the meeting would be postponed to pay homage. This tradition is still followed in the corporation.

Other Municipalities Hold Meetings

The tradition of postponing general meetings in Vadodara due to the death of political leaders is affecting the city’s development. No other municipal corporation in the state follows this tradition. In other municipalities, meetings are conducted after paying tributes. The tradition of postponing meetings in Vadodara is causing a delay in the city’s development.

Vadodara Has 76 Councilors

It is noteworthy that Vadodara has a total of 19 wards. Each ward has 4 councilors—2 women and 2 men. In total, there are 76 councilors, with 69 from the BJP and 7 from the Congress. The citizens have elected these councilors to address issues related to basic facilities in their areas and to work on the city’s development.

Public Facing Severe Problems

Councilors present issues related to unresolved basic facilities in their areas at the monthly general meetings. This monsoon, the city experienced heavy rainfall, leading to flooding throughout the city and the Viswamitri River overflowing. The heavy rain and floods have caused significant hardships and damage to the people.

Waterlogged Areas

The officials of Vadodara Municipal Corporation claimed 100% pre-monsoon preparedness before the monsoon. However, the rain has proven these claims to be false. Areas that previously did not experience waterlogging are now flooded. Moreover, the water remained stagnant for up to three days without drainage. People faced difficulties, leading to councilors and administrative officials being apprehensive about visiting the affected areas.

Governors Postponing Meetings

On the other hand, BJP officials in the corporation are avoiding calling general meetings to address issues related to pre-monsoon work, waterlogging, road cleaning, land subsidence, and cleanliness due to heavy rains and flooding in the city.

Half Monsoon Completed, Yet No Meeting

It is noteworthy that the Vadodara Corporation has a tradition of postponing meetings when a political leader passes away or a major natural or man-made disaster occurs. Although meetings have been held shortly after such resolutions in the past, the tradition of postponing meetings has continued this time, even as the monsoon is halfway through. Discussions have begun about the BJP ruling party’s avoidance of calling meetings for various reasons.

Request to Continue the Meeting

Recently, former Congress councilor Chirag Zaveri passed away. A general meeting was scheduled following his death. According to tradition, the meeting was to be postponed. However, Zaveri’s wife wrote a letter to the corporation requesting that the meeting not be postponed, as Zaveri was always active in addressing city issues and fighting for its development. Despite this request, the councilors preferred to adhere to tradition and postponed the meeting.

Continuing Tradition

Since the beginning of the monsoon, various reasons have led to the postponement of general meetings. When asked why meetings are not being held, Mayor Pinkiben Soni explained that according to Vadodara Corporation’s tradition, meetings are postponed when a political leader dies or a major natural or man-made disaster occurs. Due to such events after the monsoon, meetings could not be held.

Mayor’s Assurance

In response to whether the ruling BJP is avoiding meetings to prevent opposition criticism about the poor monsoon conditions in Vadodara, the Mayor stated that this is not the case. The city is actively addressing all issues related to basic facilities, including roads, water, and drainage. Councilors are working around the clock to resolve public issues, whether meetings are held or not.

Need to Continue Tradition

Opposition leader Chandrakant Srivastava (Bhatthu) stated that the tradition of postponing meetings in Vadodara Corporation should continue whenever a political leader dies or for other reasons.

Need to Change Tradition

Social activist Atul Gamechi commented that Vadodara Corporation is the only one in Gujarat that postpones meetings due to the death of a political leader or other reasons. This tradition is hindering the city’s development. Since even the Chief Minister and the BJP President have acknowledged the lack of development in Vadodara, it is essential to change this tradition in the interest of the city.

Postponed Meetings Still Entitled to Allowance

It is noteworthy that members of the Vadodara Corporation receive an allowance of up to ₹500 per member for attending each meeting, and they receive this allowance even if a meeting is postponed. In the last four months, Vadodara Corporation had 24 general meetings, of which 13 were postponed due to the deaths of political leaders and other reasons.