Govt has no money to repair X-ray machine at Maharashtra secretariat

Govt has no money to repair X-ray machine at Maharashtra secretariat
HAIMA DESHPANDE

MUMBAI, NOV 21: Even as the seven-storeyed centre of the Maharashtra administration, the Mantralaya, is caught in the eye of a security storm, the Home Department is dilly-dallying over what has all the makings of a crisis created by red-tape.

For the past 25 days, the rapid scan machine located at the building's entrance for security checks has not been functioning and is likely to remain so for another week, according to Mantralaya security personnel. The reason is that the state government has no money to renew the contract for this Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) Rapiscan unit.

Though Police Headquarters, under whom the security of Mantralaya falls, repeatedly told the Home Department -- in five letters -- that the contract would expire in July 2000, no action was taken, say police sources.

ECIL sources stress that they tried to follow up the matter but the government's response was far from satisfactory. The Home Department reveals that the government owes ECIL arrears that run into a couple of lakhs and the contract can only be renewed after the government clears its dues.

Neither Minister for Home Chhaggan Bhujbal nor his deputies Kripashankar Singh and Manikrao Thakre are aware of the machine's status. Bhujbal is currently abroad.

Deputy Secretary (Home) A.D. Kale confirmed that the contract was not renewed. ``There is no money to renew it. The Home Department had made a formal request for renewal to the Finance Department, which was rejected. The Finance Department had raised queries which we have answered. The contract and cheque should be ready soon,'' says Kale.

However, officials at the Home and Finance Departments and Police Headquarters refused to state the exact pending amount or the cost of the annual contract. Company officials too are tight-lipped on the issue, saying only that the matter is ``under control''.

Meanwhile, police personnel have a harrowing time physically checking the baggage of some 2,000 visitors who walk through Mantralaya every day. Elected representatives, accompanied by their coterie, argue vociferously when the request for a manual check is made. ``An MLA almost slapped me when I asked him to show me his bag. I am bound to do this by the rules but he threatened me with losing my job,'' a constable claims.

Initially reluctant, most police personnel agreed that elected representatives and some secretaries give them a hard time. ``How do we know who is an MLA? Some object to us even checking the bags of those who accompany them! What if someone smuggles in arms, ammunition or other substances...we fear security lapses,'' says another constable.

They admit that it is not possible to physically check over 2,000 visitors every day without mechanical assistance. ``Every bag has so many compartments that we spend a good 15 minutes with each bag. Thus, there is a queue and impatient visitors argue with us every day,'' says one officer.