Wrapped pillar?!

Since last week, I have been noticing the pillars near my flat was wrapped with some kind of plastic (unsure if it's chemical material). Even before that, the pillar original paint (which look new and ok to me) was scratch off until you can see the base layer. So I was thinking to myself, is someone trying to renovate the pillar and in order to pro-long the paint life-span, they have to clean the pillar totally then apply some chemical to remove the moist/harden the concrete then only apply new paint? This is getting more curios and can't want to see the final end result?

That's why I always believe curiousity can kill a cat ;)