Gujarat High Court has granted an interim stay against the inclusion of the villages until February 8.

Samiti convener and Bajwa Sarpanch Bharti Patel told Express Newsline on Wednesday, ``If the government fails to change its stand by then, we'll see to it that the trucks carrying daily supplies to the citizens of Vadodara do not enter the city limits. We'll also block the water supply from the Mahi river. Let the citizens realise that the expansion will not only affect our lives but also harm their interests''.

Representatives of the 21 villages are scheduled to meet Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria and District Collector Anil Mukim in the coming week.

While shops, establishments, schools, hospitals in the villages were closed on Tuesday, even larries stayed off the streets. Said Bajwa Deputy Sarpanch Suresh Thakkar, ``The villagers only want to continue living in peace as they have done till date. Our villages are self-sufficient and are managing well with the existing facilities. Under the VMC's shadow, the villagers will have to shell out 30 times the taxes they are paying currently to the Panchayat. Moreover, none have any faith in the VMC's ability to deliver what it is promising''.

Sama village Sarpanch Kharsan Bharwad said compared to the 10 per cent house tax charged by the Panchayat, the villagers would have to pay 90 per cent for the same to the VMC. ``Till now we have given all facilities to our villagers except drainage which we hope to provide for shortly. We don't need the VMC's interference. We get our roads cleaned everyday while the VMC will be able to do so only once every fortnight. We have provided free facilities to a slum area comprising 800 houses. Will the VMC do the same?'' he asked.

Channi Sarpanch Satish Patel said, ``With its existing infrastructure, the Channi gram panchayat has the ability to set up a mini corporation office if the need arises. We don't want the VMC to rule our lives and make it a living hell as it has done in the city. Both the trading and transporters community in this village will suffer if they're included in the limits.''

Thakkar pointed out that besides the problem of economics involved, the environmental and sociological changes affected by a shift from the rural to urban lifestyle could not be ignored. ``The villagers here live a much healthier life than they would in the city. Also, how will a family that lives here on a monthly salary of Rs 1,000 manage its household once it merges with the urban limits?'' he asked.