Mantralaya staffers in a tizzy as most departments have relocated to multiple new addresses
The devastating fire that engulfed the Mantralaya last month continues to create a host of problems for many of its departments. As some crucial departments have been shifted out to more than one location, the co-ordination efforts seem to be like a cricket match, with the minister, secretary and their staff running in between the wickets to interact with each other.
Though the government has made it clear that it will take six months for the state secretariat’s main building to be redone and repaired and the files reconstructed, it is becoming difficult for the staff and junior officials to get back into full-fledged action as their departments have been scattered and set up at different places.
The most vital Revenue department has been relocated to the World Trade Centre at Cuffe Parade. However, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat works out of the Vidhan Bhavan, while Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Swadhin Kshatriya is clearing files from the New Administrative Building opposite the Mantralaya.
Thanks to this Revenue officials and other staffers are virtually running from one end to the other to ensure speedy disposal of work.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and his deputy Ajit Pawar’s chambers were totally gutted in the blaze. The CM has now occupied the office of Health Minister Suresh Shetty on the first floor, and Pawar has taken possession of the second floor cabin of Irrigation Minister Sunil Tatkare, while both Shetty and Tatkare have been shifted to the Vidhan Bhavan. However, their departments continue to function from the Mantralaya.
Similarly, Tribal Development Minister Babanrao Pachpute is handling work from the Vidhan Bhavan though his department is still in the Mantralaya.
When contacted, Public Works Department Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, “Looking at the gravity of the tragedy, these are small issues. What is more important is that within a span of three days, we started functioning. The work of repairing the burnt floors is being done on a war footing. Within six months, we will complete the entire repair work and hopefully occupy those floors.”
(With inputs from Prashant Hamine)
The relocated Maharashtra government departments and their functional addresses are as follows:
Department Functional From
- Finance .................................................................................. DAT Barracks, opp Mantralaya
- Energy...................................................................................... Prakashgad, Bandra East
- Health...................................................................................... Arogya Bhavan, St George Hospital, near CST
- Housing.................................................................................... New Admn Bldg, 7th Flr
- Textiles..................................................................................... New Admn Bldg, 16th Flr
- Relief & Rehabilitation............................................................ Govt Barracks (Directorate) opp Mantralaya
- DGIPR....................................................................................... New Admn Bldg, 17th Flr
- Water Supply & Sanitation Dept............................................ MIP office, Mittal Towers, Nariman Point
- Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development.......................... Worli Dairy, Worli, Elphinstone Road
- Irrigation.................................................................................. New Admn Bldg, 6th Flr, 10th Flr, 15th Flr
- Irrigation & CADA Dept........................................................... New Admn Bldg, 6th Flr, 10th Flr, 15th Flr
- Water Conservation................................................................ New Admn Bldg, opp Mantralaya
- Home (Appeals)...................................................................... New Admn Bldg, 12th Flr, opp Mantralaya
- PWD......................................................................................... New Admn Bldg, 2nd Flr & Bandhkam Bhavan, Fort
- Marketing................................................................................ New Admn Bldg, opp Mantralaya
- Urban Development Dept 2................................................... MUNINFRA, Inox Theatre, Nariman Point
- Industries................................................................................ MIDC Fort office & World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade
- Urban Development Dept 1................................................... CIDCO office, 2nd Flr, Nirmal Bldg, Nariman Point
- Education................................................................................ New Admn Bldg, Opp Mantralaya
- Tourism................................................................................... MTDC Barracks, Opp LIC Yogakshem, Nairman Point
- Excise...................................................................................... Excise Commissioners Office, Old Custom House
- State Disaster Management Control Room......................... New Admn Bldg, 2nd Floor, Opp Mantralaya
- Ports........................................................................................ Maharashtra Maritime Board, Ballard Estate, Fort
- Home Department.................................................................. World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade
- Revenue.................................................................................. World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade
- Cooperation............................................................................. New Administration Building, Opp Mantralaya