False ceiling at CMO in Mantralaya collapses; inquiry ordered

The false ceiling in the Chief Minister's Office at the State Secretariat here collapsed today, prompting the government to order an inquiry into the incident.
A CMO official said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asked the Secretary, Public Works Department, to conduct a probe after the false ceiling on the sixth floor of the new Mantralaya building came down suddenly this morning.
The official said the new (Mantralaya) building was renovated for over Rs 250 crore, about three times more than the initially estimated cost.
"In spite of the amount spent, the false ceiling just suddenly gave away today. Fortunately, there was no one present in that area that time. But employees are scared now," the official said.

The State Secretariat was ravaged by a massive fire in June 2012 after which M/s Unity Constructions was alloted a Rs 138 crore contract for its renovation.
Of the total 5.5 lakh sq ft area of the Mantralaya building, 1.5 lakh sq ft was damaged by the fire in which three people were killed and 15 injured.
State Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said the renovation was done during the previous government's tenure and thus, they should be held responsible for the quality of work done.
"The new (Mantralaya) building was renovated during the time of the Congress-NCP government. Thus, either Prithviraj Chavan or (NCP leader) Chhagan Bhujbal should be held accountable for the quality of the work done," Khadse said.