Maharashtra public works minister Chhagan Bhujbal has said the restoration of the iconic Mantralaya building, damaged in a major fire, would be completed in three months.
A preliminary structural audit by a team of experts and officials of the state public works department stated the ground, first, second and third floors of the seven-storey Mantralaya and its annexe building were structurally safe. The audit of Mantralaya’s fourth and fifth floors would be completed by Thursday.
Bhujbal, who reviewed the restoration work with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, told Business Standard, “Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and his deputy Ajit Pawar would start functioning from the first and second floors of the Mantralaya. We hope to complete the restoration of the iconic building in three months.” Chavan said as a symbolic gesture, he and his deputy would start functioning from the building from Monday.
“We will also try to hold cabinet meetings in these floors soon. These floors are safe. The state of the fourth, fifth and sixth floors would be known only after structural and fire audits. A team comprising experts from the National Disaster Management Authority and IIT, Mumbai, are assessing the structural position. The government would also seek the help of forensic experts,” he said.
Bhujbal dismissed media reports of the government not implementing the recommendations of a fire safety audit in 2008. “I want to clarify it was not a fire safety audit, but a draft inspection report. The public works department implemented 31 of the 32 recommendations. The lone suggestion on fire-proof paint couldn’t be implemented, as the paint prescribed could resist fire for just five to seven minutes. In the present case, the fire was raging for over eight hours,” he said.
