The already-delayed Mantralaya renovation plan is set to see some major changes as the ministers have some demands. However, these are for the state cadre officers appointed through Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). The issue was also raised in the state Cabinet meet on Wednesday by some cabinet ministers.
The state cadre officers are unhappy that, according to the new plan of the Mantralaya building, they won’t get separate cabins anymore. These Class I officers have to sit along with the other junior officers in open. Earlier, all state cadre officers used to get separate chambers along with a secretary just like Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre officers.
According to sources, industries minister Narayan Rane raised the issue in the state Cabinet meeting. He demanded arrangement of separate chambers for deputy secretary level officers too.
“Class I officers are the senior-most officers after the IAS cadre and forcing them to sit along with other junior officers in the open would be unfair,” state PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal said in the Cabinet meet, a senior minister revealed on condition of anonymity.
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan too said that the changes should be made for state cadre officers.
There are 50 joint secretary level officers and 150 deputy secretary level officers accommodated in Mantralaya building.
Confirming the demand, G.D. Kulthe, general secretary, Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers Mahasangh said that they have met the chief secretary Jayantkumar Banthia twice over the demand and also to the deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. “Mr Pawar has also assured us that he would speak to the chief minister in this regard,” Mr Kulthe said.