Mumbai: Govt office in Aarey Milk Colony turns into a drunken den

Government officials who were captured drinking alcohol during working hours

One of the government offices of Aarey Milk Colony seems to be turning into a den for tipplers. Senior officials attached to the Aarey CEO's office were found drinking liquor in broad daylight inside one of the colony's offices.

On May 30, the NGO We Will Help (WWH) Charitable Foundation sent a letter to Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Tukaram Mundhe, secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development.

In the letter addressed to the dairy minister and secretary, the NGO has identified officials from the Aarey CEO office, including senior clerk Vijay Kokhare, assistant chief executive officer Suryakant Khate, agriculture assistant Mahadev Yelkunde and senior clerk Sanjay Jogi. The letter alleges that these individuals were observed consuming alcohol and smoking cigarettes on official premises during working hours. The picture and the names of the officials have also been forwarded to the minister and secretary.

Eugene Das, managing trustee, WWH Charitable Foundation, said, "Out of frequent regular gatherings a recent photo has been taken at the Unit No. 5 government nursery office, which shows senior government officials from the Aarey CEO office consuming alcohol and smoking cigarettes on official premises during working hours. We urge the authorities to take serious action against those involved in this inappropriate behaviour. The names and photographs of the officials have been submitted to the dairy minister and secretary to take necessary action."

Mundhe told mid-day, "The necessary action will be taken. Already directed CEO to take necessary action."

WWH Charitable Foundation has been doing environmental activities and also working with tribals in Maharashtra.

With a vision to set up a permanent environmental training and an empowerment centre, the NGO requested the state government to sanction the broken dilapidated government nursery at Unit No. 5 in Aarey Milk Colony to develop and operate the place. Similarly, Unit No. 20 nursery near Ganesh mandir in Aarey Milk Colony was sanctioned to Global Art Foundation before WWH approval.

The NGO named its project Aarey Vasundhara and envisioned it to transform the land into a sustainability hub and open the doors to community-driven projects that can add value to lives.

"To talk the talk and walk the walk, it is necessary to understand how to implement environment-friendly activities in our daily lives. Aarey Vasundhara - an eco village - hopes to bridge the gap, educate individuals and empower tribals by altering our perception of life, nature, and sustainability. But unfortunately, the extensively corrupt bureaucrats of the Aarey CEO's office started demanding bribes from the NGO to give further approvals and NOC," alleged the NGO.

The NGO further alleged that Aarey authorities in their report to the Lokayukta dated March 6 blatantly denied the requirements of any developments according to the detailed project report because their demands were ignored and turned down.

The NGO also alleged that the organisation has been frequently harassed by the Aarey CEO's office to the extent that those participating in its activities and children were denied usage of washrooms.

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No. of officials named in letter