According to highly placed civic sources, the notice drafts were finalised late on Wednesday and in all likelihood the VMC would start serving the notices from Thursday.

While the contribution each industry would have to make was not available offhand, sources said Alembic Chemical Works would have to pay Rs 80 lakhs, followed by Sarabhai Chemicals, Transpek Industries and Baroda Dairy, each of whom will have to contribute anything ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakhs. It may be recalled that Express Newsline had carried an article in June highlighting how discharge of effluents beyond permissible limits had damaged the drainage lines and sewage treatment plants.

Sources said each of the industries would be given a fortnight's time to pay the fines, following which the VMC may resort to legal action if the dues are not received.

Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria told Express Newsline that the High Court has asked the VMC to approach them again if the matter cannot be sorted out between them (the VMC and the industries).

The matter had come to light after the Gujarat High Court initiated suo moto action against the VMC some one-and-a-half years ago for discharging partially-treated sewage in the natural water courses which later join river Vishwamitri. It was then that the VMC submitted a list of 49 industries, saying that they often released effluents beyond permissible limits.

A meeting was held between the VMC officers and representatives of industries in February to discuss how the amount could be shared. Civic sources claimed that since the industries did not depute representatives to calculate the amount to be shared as agreed, the VMC has calculated the amount based on quality and quantity of the effluent. Six parameters like the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and PH value have reportedly been taken into consideration. The Atladara and Gajrawadi plants have been upgraded to 27 million litre gallon (mld) capacity each and the tender for the Tarsali plant (52 mld) is reportedly being scrutinised.