Amid an unabated increase in the number of Covid-19 triggered deaths and infections in the metropolis, the Maharashtra Government on Friday shunted out Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi and appointed Urban Development Department's Principal Secretary Iqbal Chahal in his place.
A day after a video showing at least four bodies wrapped in black plastic lying on beds next to Covid-19 patients undergoing treatment at the BMC-run LTMG Hospital at Sion in north-central Mumbai went viral, the state government carried out a major bureaucratic reshuffle in the state.
Under the reshuffle, Pardeshi –a 1985 batch IAS officer –was moved out from his position of Mumbai Municipal Commissioner and posted as Additional Chief Secretary (1), Urban Development Department at Mantralaya in south Mumbai.
In an apparent effort to bring in some new ideas to deal with the worsening Coronavirus situation in the metropolis, the state government appointed I S Chahal, a 1989 IAS officer who was earlier Principal Secretary of Urban Development Department, Mantralaya, as the Mumbai Municipal Commissioner.
In two other appointments aimed at strengthening the BMC set, the state government appointed Mrs Ashwini Bhide, a 1995 batch IAS officer, and Sanjeev Jaiswal, a 1996 IAS officer, as Additional Municipal Commissioners in the BMC. The two IAS officers will help Chahal in his task.
The sudden transfer of Pardeshi from the high-profile Mumbai Municipal Commissioner’s post, a post he held for one year. Prior to his appointment as the Mumbai Municipal Commissioner, Pardeshi had worked as Additional chief secretary to former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Known for his administrative prowess, Pardeshi had made a mark for himself by efficiently handling the situation of arising out a massive earthquake at Latur in Marathwada region on September 30, 1993, in which more than 10,000 people were killed and 30000 others injured.
Among other assignments Pardeshi had handled was a senior leadership position he worked in the United Nations for seven years in Geneva: He headed the NDP Geneva Post Conflict Recovery Unit in Geneva (2002 to 2005, and was the Senior Co-ordinator, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Geneva for oversight over regional offices of Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, for policies on mainstreaming disaster reduction in development programmes.
Meanwhile, in other bureaucratic transfers, Manoj Saunik, a 1987 IAS officer, who was earlier working as Additional Chief Secretary, Pubic Works Department, has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary (Finance), Finance Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai.
A L Jarhad, a 1997 IAS officer who was working as Additional Municipal Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai has been posted as Secretary (R&R), Revenue and Forest Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai.
Mrs Jayshree Bhoj, a 2003 IAS officer, who was Additional Municipal Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mumbai has been posted as Managing Director, MSSIDC, Mumbai
A 2003 IAS officer, K D Nimbalkar – who was working as Secretary (R&R), Revenue and Forest Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai has been posted as Secretary, Public Works Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai.