File reconstruction is top priority: Maharashtra CM

Following yesterday's fire at Mantralaya, the state secretariat, reconstruction of documents in damaged files was the government's top priority, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said here today.

Chavan told reporters here that 2.25 lakh files had been digitalised and 3.18 crore papers had been scanned prior to the incident.

"Hard disks of damaged computers will be retrieved, for which assistance of NASCOM and IT experts, including foreign agencies, will be taken," Chavan added.

Referring to speculation that files related to Adarsh housing scam may have been damaged, Chavan, who also holds the Urban Development portfolio, said the papers were with CBI and the judicial commission.

"We have photocopies with us. Hence, the speculation that Adarsh probe will be hampered due to the fire is ruled out," the Chief Minister said. Files of Land Ceiling department too were safe, he said.

All the files at Mantralaya will be put in steel trunks and taken to a safe place, he said. Secretaries of respective departments had been entrusted the task of recovering the files, he added.

Entry to the building was prohibited and the access would be allowed only after a structural audit, the Chief Minister said.

"The annexe building is safe while the top three floors of the main building have been damaged.

The annexe building would be cleared in two days. Even in the main building, the first three floors have been flooded with water though there is no damage due to the fire," he said.