Fed up of what they call deliberate fires inside the Aarey Milk Colony, activists and nature lovers have accused dairy authorities of ignoring attempts to clear green patches in the eco-sensitive pocket.

One of the recent fires was in the vicinity of Aarey CEO Nathu Rathod’s official home but he did not report it, said a nature lover. Activists have reported at least 11 instances of fires inside Aarey since February, with most seen in March. The destruction is being done by the land mafia to raise hutments and facilitate growth of slums, they said. “If it’s happening right in front of Nathu Rathod’s bungalow and his dairy department premises and still he doesn’t bother to call the Fire Brigade, it is obvious that he is turning a blind eye,” said activist Sanjeev Valsan.