The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has decided to carpet a stretch of road outside its limit at a cost of Rs 75 lakh.

Mayor Bharati Vyas said although the portion of the land did not fall in the VMC limits, it was decided to carpet the stretch following umpteen complaints from citizens. Also the road is adjoining the VMC limits. The work is expected to start soon.

It may be recalled that the VMC has already decided to widen and carpet the road between Manekpark Junction and Harni.

Mayor on AICM panel : Mayor Bharati Vyas has been appointed on the executive committee of the All India Council of Mayors.

According to a VMC spokesman, she is also on the sub-committee formed to look into the possibilities of implementation of the 1974th amendment of the Constitution in various states.

Ward 26 bypoll : Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria has been suggested to conduct by-election in ward number 26 as the BJP councillor Ramdev A Vasava has expired. In a letter Municipal Secretary Pinakin Joshi has stated that as per Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, by-election has to be held within three months after death of a councillor.

I-T exemption : The Income Tax Commissionerate has extended till 2000 the benefit of exemption under 80 (G) of the Income Tax Act to persons donating in the Mayors Fund which was set up to provide aid to cyclone victims of Gujarat.

Encroachments: In the last two days, 110 unauthorised patharas and more than 125 miscellaneous items from near the M S University pavilion, drugs laboratory, polytechnic, Race Course Circle, Badamdi Garden and Sarabhai Circle.

Two larris having licenses were also removed from outside the M S University Vice Chancellors' bungalow.

New grills: The VMC has proposed to install new grills on 12 city main roads at a cost of Rs 45 lakh.

The proposal is expected to be taken up for discussion on Friday.

The 12 roads are: Sayajiganj-Kalaghoda, Fatehpura-Mangleshwar Zampa, Maharani Shantadevi Nursing Home-Fire Brigade, Pratap talkies-Padmavati Shopping Centre, Bhagatsinh Chowk-Market crossroads, 100 meter area near Kashivishwanath Mahadev temple, a certain sector on the Jail Road, Vegetable Market-L V Palace, Narhari Hospital-Garden office, Aradhana talkies-Kothi and Market crossroads-Veraimata Chowk.

Central lighting: A proposal for central lighting on 12 roads, including Jambuva National bypass-Pratapnagar bridge, Lalbaug crossing-Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School, Ajwa-Waghodia junction-Vrindavan crossroads, Race Course Circle and Shastri Bridge to Chhani is also likely to be taken up for discussion.

The administration has also sought the Standing Committee's nod to lay 750-mm diameter line under the narrow gauge railway line at Ajwa at a cost of Rs 22.66 lakh. It will lead to 50 million litre daily filtration plant being laid at Nimeta to draw excess water from Ajwa.

Adjourned: The general board meeting was adjourned till November 6, after paying tributes to former councillor Mohanbhai K Patel, who died on Monday. Agitation: BJP councillor from election ward number 16 Yogesh Patel (Dhabal) has threatened to launch an agitation on Gandhian lines if the VMC failed to set up sewage pumping station at Saurabh Park, Laxmipura to ease drainage choking, water-logging.

He also alleged that several roads were not carpeted despite suggestions given in 1997-98. The councillor also observed that a police chowki on the Ellora Park main road was lying in the roadline.

Councillors' plea: A section of BJP councillors on Tuesday urged the Municipal Commissioner to simplify the allocation of plumbers for giving drainage and water connections.

According to sources, the representation was in response to an objection raised by the plumbers on the administration's decision to divide them ward-wise.