A proposal to gradually convert all non-metered connections into metered, starting with commercial users, was put forth by Committee members at a meeting of the panel on Wednesday, Chairman Pradeep Joshi informed.

The installation of the meters and the cost incurred for the same, however, will be the liability of the consumers who will also have to ensure that meters installed meet the VMC specifications. The responsibility of any damage to the meters will also rest with the consumers, Joshi said.

About 43,000 of the total 60,910 gas pipeline connections provided by the VMC are currently being metered. Meanwhile, as many as 6,500 connections are lying non-functional, Joshi added.

He also announced a plan to forma special squad to bring to book those who were using domestic connections for commercial purposes. The meeting was also attended by committee members Nisha Nayyar, Ashwin Thakore and Harish Vaghela.

Tackling Menace: A meeting of the VMC's administrative authorities, members of the Health Committee and officials of 10 wards will be held on March 16 to discuss the problem of infestation of mosquitoes and formulate a concrete plan to tackle the same.

Chairman of the Health Committee Lalita Oza told Express Newsline on Wednesday that health officers and ward officials will discuss the issue of mosquito menace in the city with Deputy Municipal Commissioner I B Peerzada.

Oza admitted that the civic body had failed to control the breeding of mosquitoes resulting why no impact of the annual fogging had been felt this year. ``The mosquitoes multiply every three days thus soon replacing those eliminated by the fogging. We have called to attention of officials concerned, the gathering of sewage water in storm water drains which has encouraged the breeding,'' she said, adding that the VMC had already initiated measures to clear the vegetation growth in the Bhuki Kans passing through Nava Yard and Nizampura.

Garbage Plea: A writ petition alleging corruption by VMC heads in the purchase of garbage containers, filed by Opposition leader Kanchanbhai Parmar, has been admitted in the Gujarat High Court.

Parmar has alleged that corruption to the tune of Rs 13 lakhs in the Rs 30 lakh deal between the civic body and the contractor for the purchase of 300 containers.

The court has ordered Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria and the contractor to remain present at the case hearing scheduled for April 23.