In a letter to Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria, Parmar sought to know what action the VMC officers had initiated to recover the long pending dues.The letter containing break ups says that the VMC has yet to recover Rs 19.59 crore from the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) which is pending from the time the former handed over the electricity department to the latter.

Parmar further stated that Rs 2.83 crore has to be recovered from the Yamuna Mill towards pending dues of water and drainage charges, property taxes and electricity bills. He claims that the Railways also has to pay Rs 69.76 lakhs towards services charges. The shops in the Padmavati Shopping Centre have to pay Rs 2.03 lakhs in rent.

According to the councillor, Rs 21.83 lakh also remain to be recovered from over 1,700 government buildings in the city and Rs 20.36 lakh from small industries in general, drainage, and water taxes.

He stated that when such a large amount remains to be recovered, it is unfair to threaten the common man with auction of properties. Parmar alleged that as the VMC lawyers do not remain present at the hearings, a large number of cases, including 900 of those filed under Prevention of Food and Adulteration (PFA) Act, were pending.

When contacted, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (General) I B Peerzada said he would have to check the details. Assistant Municipal Commissioner (Revenue) R P Yagnik was not available for comments.