Dated: 19.9.2011
The Chief Commissioner of I ncome-tax,
Mumbai.
Sir,
Sub: Repair and renovation of Belapur staff qtrs.
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Kindly refer to the above.
We had given a detailed letter dated 27.4.2011 (copy enclosed) on the condition of the staff quarters at Belapur and the steps needed to be taken to improve the situation. This issue was taken up on various occasions earlier and some of the CCsIT(CCA) had personally visited the quarters. Again on the request of our members staying there we had visited the quarters on 11.9.2011. The situation seems to have gone from bad to worse over the years. The quarters are in a dilapidated condition. Of the 418 flats only 24 are occupied. All the 24 members are housed in the E type after the few members staying in other types were shifted to E-type on our request. It is indeed shocking to find the staff members staying in rain soaked flats with water leaking in almost every room, damaging even their furniture. In most of the flats one or the other room is kept locked due to leaking and the damaged furniture lay testimony to the pathetic condition in which our members are placed. In many of the flats there are no windows and doors and if at all it is there, it is in damaged condition. Even the bath room doors are damaged to such an extent it is difficult for them to carry out their daily routines. Because of the leakages the staff members face the threat of electric shock as the walls are wet and some of them had experienced that too. As far as the unoccupied quarters are concerned the less said the better. All those flats are without windows and doors and lying like ghost houses which is merrily used by anti-social elements at night and even during day time thereby posing security threat to the families staying there. We feel that even those who are staying in the shanties in Mumbai will be having a better living condition.
he conditions of the quarters are a testimony to the utter callousness of the department towards its own property which is located in the prime area of Navi Mumbai and worth crores of rupees. How callous and carefree the authorities concerned are can be gauged from the fact that in the open ground where the pump-house is located which belong to the department a permanent structure i.e. a pucca House, has been constructed by somebody. If the information received by us are to be believed builders are eyeing the property may be with the intention of illegal construction. (Copy of the plan enclosed to have a clear picture).
As far as the security is concerned after a lot of hue and cry 6 private security men were sanctioned for taking care of the people and property. (Copy of order enclosed). However when we visited the place we were told that initially there were 4 security personnel which is now reduced to three. This only shows the casual attitude of the admn. towards the interest of our members staying in the quarters. We will not be surprised if it turns out that payment is being made in respect of 6 security personnel instead of the 3 actually in place at Belapur!
The proposal for a phased renovation of the quarters was taken up and we were told that the matter has been sent to the CBDT for sanctioning of funds. In the meeting of the Addl.CsIT(HQ)Admn. held at Jaipur the matter of repair and renovation of Belapur was taken up by our Secretary General, Com. Ashok Salunkhe and the reply from the CBDT authorities were that no proposal is pending with them and if any proposal is sent it will be cleared as funds are not a problem. Hence, we feel that there should be serious efforts on the part of the Mumbai administration to get the necessary funds to carry out the repair and renovation of the quarters without further loss of time. In the E-type quarters extensive repair and renovation should be carried out in at least in 6 buildings so that those who are already staying there can be shifted in to the renovated buildings. The repair to other buildings can be carried out after that. One of the important steps that need to be taken is to secure the property with boundary wall and also eviction of the illegal encroachment in the open ground of the colony.
Our pleas on the repair and renovation and other aspects of the Belapur staff quarters have fell on deaf ears in the past. On the one hand our members are waiting for their turn to get allotment of staff quarters while 394 flats are lying without use at Belapur for years together. The department is in the process of constructing and procuring of new properties using crores of rupees of public money. But the same department does not have any seriousness or inclination to protect property already owned by it, which is worth cores of rupees in the prime location of Navi Mumbai. Or is it that it does not care a hoot for the lower class employees of the department? We once again request that this issue may be taken up on war footing to alleviate the miseries heaped on our members because of the callous attitude of the people in authority.
Thanking You,
Yours faithfully,
Ravindran B Nair
General Secretary
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