12 January,2012 07:48 AM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav
Slew of safety measures in place at MMRDA's building in BKC after MiD DAY reported that vital papers from the Rehab and Resettlement department were rummaged
Five days after MiD DAY published a damning report ('Mithi rehabilitation files stolen from MMRDA', January 7) critical of the security breach at Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's (MMRDA) headquarters in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), security at the building has now been fortified.
MiD DAY's report on January 7
Surveillance has been stepped up, a strict vigil is being maintained and the activities of visitors being monitored.
MiD DAY's report had brought to light how important papers from two confidential files in the Rehabilitation
and Resettlement department went missing while others were rummaged in December on two separate dates.
"Top-level management has taken a serious note of the missing files incident. All department heads have been asked to take precautions. Moreover, the private security guards have been asked to maintain a register at the reception and will now enquire visitors regarding their purpose of visit," said a senior MMRDA officer, on condition of anonymity.
"Guards are instructed from prohibiting outsiders into the building after office hours," added the official.
Sources in the authority said that the decision to effect stringent security measures were taken after taking cognisance of MiD DAY's report.
Last week, when this reporter visited the headquarters, guards were on duty at each floor of the building but they were not armed.
But yesterday, the security procedures were rigorous. The third floor, from where the files reportedly went missing, was secured with armed guards who seemed thorough with their checks.
The MMRDA officials have informed the police of the infringement, but haven't lodged a formal complaint with the police yet in the matter.
The breachu00a0
Two important files containing information related to the R&R of project-affected people (PAP) were ransacked on December 14 and December 30 from the R&R office located in the main MMRDA building. According to the cops, the files were ransacked from the locker. Important papers such as eligibility and identity proof of the PAP is housed in the R&R office for verification. It is on the basis of these documents that houses are allotted to PAP in the R&R colonies of MMRDA.
Sources had told this newspaper that this is one of the most compromised departments of MMRDA where ineligible people routinely submit bogus documents through agents to appear to be eligible for houses in MMRDA colonies.
