Dr Sanjay Mukherjee bungalow renovated, costing a crore, by using funds from the Water supply project

There is always an feeling, that the IAS officers posted in the MCGM are more sensitive towards their own comforts rather than that of Mumbaikars, for which they are posted. By occupying the bungalow meant for the Hydraulic Engineer and the also the Guest house one of the Addl Municipal commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee has renovated his bungalow costing more than a crore from the fund meant for the water supply project. This has been revealed vide an response to an RTI query filed by RTI Activist Anil Galgali. The other officer Mrs Pallavi Darade an CM's favoured officer has objected to providing of information stating that that it is a personal information. RTI Activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the MCGM's water dept about the expenses incurred in the renovation of bungalows allotted to IAS officers Dr Sanjay Mukherjee and Pallavi Darade. Initially both the officers issued verbal instructions to the department to not provide the information sought. But since there is no provision in the RTI Act enabling the Public Information officer to conceal information on the grounds of verbal orders, the PIO of the water dept provided information on the bungalow allotted Dr Sanjay Mukherjee stating that, the bungalow was originally an guest house and it was allotted as a residence for Dr Mukherjee after obtaining permission from the Municipal Commissioner in January 2015. The bungalow admeasuring 2682 sq ft, has incurred expenses of Rs 1 crore 44 thousand 679 and paise 30 only since January 2015, also Rs 92 thousand 234 was spent on electricity charges. Prior to Dr Mukherjee occupying that bungalow, the expenses incurred on the bungalow for a period of 4 years from 2011 to 2014 was 89 thousand 705. One point worth mentioning is that water charges are not collected from the bungalow. Out of fear of exposure of the husband - wife duo , Pallavi Darade, who was given a jump by posting in the MCGM as Addl Municipal Commissioner has in a letter dt 10 June 2016 has filed an objection against providing the information to Galgali. Pallavi Darade's husband Pravin Darade is posted as Secretary in the CM's office, after Vikas Kharage's transfer the bungalow admeasuring 4830 sq ft was allotted to him on 2nd January 2015. Before the allotment of the bungalow to Darade's, in the preceding 4 years expenses of Rs 2 Lakh 20 thousand 544 and paise 93 was spent for upkeep of the bungalow. Water charges is not levied on the bungalow and electricity charges too are not being paid by the MCGM since January 2015 . Further information has not been provided as Pallavi Darade has objected claiming that the information pertains to personal information category and hence not be provided. Anil Galgali has expressed surprise over the manner in which crores of rupees is being spent by IAS officers for renovation and interior. He has also complained to the Municipal commissioner on the allotment of the bungalow of the Hydraulic Engineer to the Addl Municipal commissioner and has cautioned that such practice's needs to be stopped and also action be initiated against the officers who have diverted the funds meant for providing water supply to Mumbaikars for the renovation of the Bungalows. He has also demanded action against the officers who are treating the official government residence as their personal property. He expressed that almost 5 times of the salary drawn by Dr Mukherjee in the past 18 months has been spent on renovation and decorations of the bungalow, which is a matter of deep concern. He has demanded that expenses incurred on the renovation of Pallavi Darade's residence be declared and uploaded on the MCGM'S website.