CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday directed the experts committee formed to examine the stability of the Chepauk palace, which was gutted in fire on January 15, to submit its report within five days as to whether a replica of the original building could be restored in the same place.The CM also directed the committee to examine all the heritage structures in the city and submit a report on their safety aspects. Besides, to prevent fire accidents in government buildings, the CM has directed that fire tenders as well as electronic equipemnt in all these offices should be examined periodically and they should be kept ready for use at any time. The committee is to examine if the building itself can be restored or if a replica of the original building can be reconstructed. Prof. AR Santhakumar of Anna University, R Gopalakrishanan, Engineer in Chief (Buildings) of the Public Works Department, C Palanivelu, Chief Planner of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), who is also a convenor of Heritage Committee of CMDA, are members of the committee.Estimates say that computers, furniture, files and documents belonging to the Social Welfare Department and Commercial Taxes Department have been destroyed by the fire. While Social Welfare Department had lost equipment worth Rs 1.20 crore and CT Department had lost equipment worth Rs 1.50 crore.Since these departments deal with public service, the CM gave alternative office space to them within a couple of days of the accident. With a view to ensure full-fledged functioning of these departments, the CM has, as a first instalment, allocated Rs 96 lakh for the Directorate of Social Welfare and Rs 1.50 crore for CT Department. She has also ordered regeneration of the attendance registers and files of these departments at the earliest.
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