AFK takes back 100 sub-let houses from employees

Around 100 houses that had been sub-let have been evicted so far,stated AFK officials.

They said notices have been sent to AFK employees who sublet their official quarters and a letter has been sent to allied defence establishments seeking action against their employees who had similarly sublet AFK quarters. Some 3,900 quarters have been given to AFK employees and the staff of allied defence establishments like the 512 army base workshop.

The violation came to the notice of AFK during weekly inspections by officials to Range Hill Estate and the Ordnance Estate in Khadki.

“We have sent notices to some of our own employees and have written to heads of allied defence establishments to take action against theirs,” said additional general manager,AFK,Rajiv Agarwal. Agarwal said that employees have been asked to explain why they should not face disciplinary action and salary cuts. AFK said that subletting had taken place flouting the law and the evacuation was carried out to accommodate new recruits.

“The exercise of evicting sub-let houses was helping the factory accommodate its own employees at the free quarters,” said Agarwal. For the past year or so,AFK has been recruiting and 600 employees are already in. Another 200 are in the process of being employed.

“Our 600 employees have joined work and we are recruiting 200 more. Their police verifications are in the process of completion. We have not been able to provide accommodation to all employees who joined,” said Agarwal. “Some recent recruits are making their own arrangements,” he added.

Amid the evictions,there are demands that the AFK repair many of the quarters in bad shape. “Some quarters are in real bad shape and it is becoming difficult for employees to live in them. It is welcome that the AFK has sent notices to employees but it needs to improve life of residents,” said BJP member in the Khadki Cantonment Board,Sunil Jadhav.

Agarwal agreed: “Some of the quarters have become unfit for living. They need to be demolished and new quarters will be constructed for employees.”