Bringing back the collection, which includes sculptures, intricate wood carvings sankeda chairs, plaster models, papier- mache items, metal sculptures and traditional clay ornaments, has cost the centre a whopping Rs 40 lakh -- in damages -- with many of the items beyond restoration.

But that was not their first brush with disaster. When the authorities first announced the shift to Bhopal in December 1995, the consignment was stored at the centre's Kora Kendra at Borivli, which was turned into a junkyard of collector's items. For a fortnight, the antiques jostled forspace with discarded furniture, office equipment trussed up in torn plastic bags and of course a legion of creatures which virtually crawled out of the woodwork.

The centre, an autonomous central government undertaking set up for the development of handicrafts, trains artisans and promotes their work at melas it organises in India and abroad and offers technical assistance as well. However, since December 1995, it has done precious little save wrestle with its 32 employees who vehemently opposed the shift to Bhopal.

The employees allege that their success in bringing the centre back to Mumbai has humbled the authorities, who are therefore intent on continuing to harass them. The centre's employees, all city-based artisans, say the authorities are trying to repatriate them to Bhopal this time by transferring the posts there. For instance, the post of assistant-cum-pattern maker is already in the process of being attached to the Bhopal office.

The centre, originally situated at Prabhadevi, was shifted toBhopal after the office space had to be surrendered to the owner, Fedders Lloyd, following a directive of the Bombay High Court. The employees were promised alternative space in Mumbai but a fortnight later, transfer orders were abruptly issued.

``In the interim, they even made us write false applications for 15 days leave so that they could make arrangements for alternative accommodation for the centre,'' alleges a staff member. ``None of us had the financial resources to leave Mumbai and settle in an unknown city like Bhopal,'' he explains.

Four of the 32 employees accepted the transfer while the rest battled it out with the intervention of Thane Member of Parliament Satish Pradhan, who met Union Textiles Minister Kanshiram Rana. No work ever took place at the Bhopal centre, they say.

The centre's Regional Director, Dr P Narayanan, meanwhile denies pressure is being exerted on the staff, saying all the allegations are baseless. He does however admit that the artefacts have been damaged in transitthough he says the loss ``has not been assessed by anybody so far''.

Narayanan also admits that there are vacancies for the post of skilled master craftsman in the Bhopal office which will be filled by eligible Mumbai-based candidates. ``They may accept if they wish or else we shall have to go through the employment exchange lists for recruitment,'' Narayanan told Express Newsline.

Meanwhile, the centre's 32 employees are eagerly awaiting the inauguration of their new office at Lower Parel.