Mantralaya fire: Damaged files to be retrieved in three steps

Mumbai: As a part of efforts to re-construct all the damaged files in the wake of the devastating fire at the state secretariat, Maharashtra government has made three classifications to retrieve the documents.To recover the damaged files, the classifications would be made in the form of— documents and applications received from citizens, from within state government offices and departments, and central government and other offices.The urban development, revenue, relief and rehabilitation, forest, home, tourism, transport, ports and FDA departments have been affected in the fire which engulfed the fourth, fifth and sixth floors of Mantralaya on 21 June.[caption id="attachment_355318" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="PTI"][/caption]The premises which were destroyed include the Chief Minister's office, Deputy Chief Minister's office, offices of the cabinet ministers of tribal welfare, environment, animal husbandry and fisheries, excise and non-conventional energy departments.Besides, offices of ministers of state for housing, PWD, culture, higher and technical education, animal husbandry and fisheries, environment, GAD along with the Chief Secretary's office have been completely destroyed.According to a circular issued by Chief Secretary JK Banthiya, all district collectors have been asked to reach out to citizens asking them to deposit receipts of their application made at state secretariat 'Mantralaya' along with a copy and related documents with the tehsil office. Special cell should be set up to accept these documents."District collectors should ensure that the documents reach Mantralaya at the earliest. The information and publicity department should inform the public about the list of departments which have been damaged in the fire," a circular issued by Banthiya said.The circular said all government departments should cross-check the documents sent to other ministries in Mantralaya and on which decisions were pending. District collectors have also been asked to monitor the same.Document Journey Management System (DJMS) should be initiated for documents generated in Mantralaya departments and in the next one week employees should reconstruct the files. Information should be tracked from field offices of the related departments.The Chief Secretary has instructed that reconstruction of all files should be completed in one month's time. Secretaries should fix time frame for the purpose, the circular said.Elected representatives should be taken into confidence to reach out to maximum number of people. District collectors and divisional commissioners should implement the orders immediately, the circular said.PTI