Inferno fails to delay staff salaries

The state government on Friday paid the salaries of all its employees on time notwithstanding the massive fire that almost unsettled the functioning at the Mantralaya.

A senior secretary in the chief minister’s office said, “It is a formidable challenge. But top officials and ministers will have to keep the moral upbeat of the employees who are willing lend a helping hand. As a result, we have to ensure their monthly salaries are not compromised.” The manner in which the government worked to provide the salaries on time has reassured and boasted the confidence of the employees.

Both the state finance and the public works department offices have been burnt in the fire. But chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had given strict instructions to individual departments to immediately process the salaries of every employee working at the Mantralaya.

An officer in the general administration department said, “The salaries of all employees have been issued almost 24 hours ahead.”

A total of 5,445 employees work at the Mantralaya in  27 departments. The strength of class one and class two rank officials is 1,133, while there are 4,312 class three and class four employees. The ministers (senior and junior) add up to 40.

Meanwhile, chief secretary Jayant Kumar Banthia was seen navigating through the fire-ravaged passages on Friday. Apart from ensuring the top three floors are rid of debris, he would have to ensure that every employee who reported to work is accommodated in the given space.