According to sources, the company officers had called on the civic chief in connection with the disconnection of the company's drainage connection for releasing effluent in the civic drains which are above the permissible Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) norms. The VMC has recently disconnected water and drainage connections of three industries.

Fines recovered: The VMC on Monday recovered Rs 10,200 from persons littering the streets in various parts of the city. The drive is a continuation of the Swachha Gujarat, Swachha Gujarat campaign.

From administrative ward number 6, the civic body also collected 39 water samples. A VMC spokesman said that 60 out of the 422 water samples were found contaminated.

Patriotic songs: The Department of Youth Services and Cultural Activities, the State Government and the VMC will jointly organise a patriotic song programme here at the Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Gruh on June 23 at 8.30 p.m. The programme has been organised as part of the death anniversary of Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee and to give strength to the jawans who are fighting in Kargil. Local artists who will perform include Atul Purohit, Nina Patel, Shirish Pandya, Kashyap Vohri, Hemali Vohra and others.

Skating rink: The Baroda District Roller Skating Academy has urged the VMC to allow them to manage the Akota Skating Rink.

In a letter to various office-bearers of the VMC on Monday, Vipul Patel of the Academy has stated that the rink could be used for conducting national and international skating events. The Academy has said that it would bear the maintenance expenses. Patel claimed that if they were given the permission, they could even start aggressive skating. This, he claimed, would be a first in India.