MONSOON CHEERS TO OTHERS AND FEARS TO SERVICE TAX OFFICERS.

              Ref: CESA/43/2015

              Date: 23.06.2015.

The Chief Commissioner,

Central Excise & Service Tax,

Mumbai Zone.

Respected Sir,

Sub: - Staff in panic – no safety – run down condition of newly acquired  Lotus Building and in Estrella Battery Compound Building – reg.

LOTUS BUILDING:    Officers of Service Tax III & IV are sitting in the newly acquired Lotus building, which has not even celebrated its first anniversary of occupation.  The fury of monsoon ransacked from all sides of the building, without any discrimination, irrespective of the cadre/post occupied in the space. 

          The building is newly constructed and partially furnished. But it is not able to sustain the first monsoons initial furry and not only leakage even the false ceiling appears to be really false and has fall down on a lady officer’s shoulder last week. The officers sitting in Lotus building are under terrible shock and panic, having no alternative to occupy the safer space or leave the department and live peacefully without any untimely physical injury, which may cost his life and shatter his family permanently. Due to leakage/seepage of rain water, the centrally airconditioned office is without aircondition and the officers are working suffocating condition, as there is natural ventilation like window etc.  This is the condition of the building, which is facing the initial monsoon in Mumbai, where the monsoon lasts for almost four months.  We leave it your best judgement, on the condition of the building and the fate of the officers, during the monsoon!  It is in the officers’ mind as to how this building was taken into possession, without even getting the basic approvals from the Municipality and Fire Department.  

ESTRELLA BATTERY COMPOUND: The situation in Estrella Battery Compound Building, where in Service Tax VII Mumbai Commissionerate, One Division of Central Excise Mumbai I Commissionerate and Central Excise Audit – I Commissionerates, are accommodated. Interior renovation and furnishing work, for ambience, was carried out,but no care was taken to curtail the water seepage from the ceiling and sides. Earlier the officers posted therein was injured due to falling of ceiling and as well electrocuted. But we have not learnt any lesson to make the premises safe.

          The officers were left to wade in ankle deep water in the office and are sitting in very akward condition, keeping their legs on another chair.  All the computers as well as records are in wet condition and the entire office is giving a bad odour.  Diseases like asthma and other monsoon related diseases like leptospirosis etc cannot be ruled out as in the office large rodents are there, apart from the chances of the building collapsing from the top or the sides or electrocution.   

          Sir, officers are coming to the office to discharge their duties and to give their optimum, expect a human working condition and safe return to their homes at the end of the day.  No officer is coming to get injured or succumb to any sort of eventuality in the office where no facility is available and the seniors are helpless to provide for even the safety of the officers. 

          Today, a huge chunk has fallen down in the server room of the audit Commissionerate.  Continuous sparks were seen from the switch boards and the fear of short circuit and electrocution is constant in minds of the officers, sitting in this building. CESA requests your goodself to kindly intervene because the life of each officer is precious and valuable to their family members and needs adequate safety while in office.  Kindly instruct suitable steps to overcome these conditions immediately. 

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

A.K. SASMAL

General Secretary