State security will be compromised so PWD withholding expenditure of Maharashtra CM, DCM & CS office

The state government of Maharashtra held up the bogey of ' state security' to withhold information on expenditure incurred on Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister & Chief Secratary temporary office after the original office was destroyed in Mantralaya fire of 21 June 2012. This came to light following a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by activist Anil Galgali.

After the fire at the Mantralaya gutted three whole floors at the secretariat building, the repairs and renovation work is awarded the cost to Rs 138 crore. After so many changes work  cost has increased but PWD department not ready to give detail of  increase cost, said Galgali. After the fire CM, DCM & CS office shifted at First floor on which crores of Rupees spend on sitting arrangements. now there office's are shifts at 6th floor so  again this office plan to demolished. Galgali ask that how many money spend on that temporary arrangement. Now whats a plan sanction for first floor office's and estimated cost. This simple  information  rejected  to RTI Activists Anil Galgali  by PWD claiming that its not necessary to give information in the view of State security will be compromised.

“In the first phase,  M/s. Unity Infraprojects limited will complete the repairs and renovation of the floors that were damaged in the June 21 fire. In the second phase the remaining three floors — the ground floor to the third floor — will be renovated,” as reply to Galgali. Work Tender accept on 24 Dec 2012 and Government of Maharashtra give 8 months time period to complete both Phase 1 and Phase2. Till Govt paid Rs  94,18,78,476 in which civil work cost is Rs 57,38,57,763 and Electrical work cost is Rs 13,69,98,175. Total Rs  71,08,55,938  paid to M/s Unity Infraprojects Ltd.  Second highest amount Rs 13,72,19,038  paid to Executive Engineer, South Mumbai Electrical department. M/s Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd get Rs 4,99,77,456 by PWD Department. Rs 4,04,18,000  paid to consultant. M/s Raja Aederi Consultants Pvt Ltd  who submit Rs 4.04 crores bills from 28 feb 2013 to 22 Oct 2013. PWD paid Rs. 11,23,600 to Register IIT Mumbai, Rs 10,44,800 to BEST, Rs 8,87,644 to  M/s  HM Raje Structural Consultants Pvt Ltd and Rs 3,52,000 to MCGM for various work.

Mantralaya work also delay and its again shows that PWD is not monitor the work properly. PWD argument on withholding expenditure of Maharashtra CM, DCM & CS office have no sense and trying to hide basic information which should be publish and updated by PWD department on there website under the section 4(1) of RTI Act 2005, said Galgali