CM SHIFTS PWD OFFICIALS ‘CLOSE TO SHIVPAL’
The state government on Friday transferred 15 IAS officers, including two senior bureaucrats considered close to former PWD minister Shivpal Yadav who is chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle. Principal secretary, public works department (PWD), Aradhana Shukla has been shifted to the transport department in the same capacity. Secretary, PWD, Anurag Yadav has been made secretary, khadi and rural industries department. The charge of officer on special duty (OSD), Noida, has been also withdrawn from Aradhana Shukla.
LUCKNOW: The state government on Friday transferred 15 IAS officers, including two senior bureaucrats considered close to former PWD minister Shivpal Yadav who is chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle.
Principal secretary, public works department (PWD), Aradhana Shukla has been shifted to the transport department in the same capacity.
Secretary, PWD, Anurag Yadav has been made secretary, khadi and rural industries department. The charge of officer on special duty (OSD), Noida, has been also withdrawn from Aradhana Shukla.
Principal Secretary, mining, Sudhir Garg has been appointed the principal secretary, PWD.
Both Aradhana and Anurag are considered close to Shivpal who was divested of key portfolios on September 13, triggering a feud in the Samajwadi Party’s first family. Most of the departments, except the PWD, were returned to Shivpal on September 17.
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav kept the PWD portfolio with himself while giving 14 departments to his uncle. After the CM took charge of the PWD, there was speculation in bureaucratic circles that Aradhana Shukla and Anurag Yadav would be shifted.
The CM reviewed the working of the PWD on September 19 and directed officers to complete the pending projects on schedule.
“All the district headquarters will be connected with four-lane roads. The Varanasi-Shakti Nagar highway will be completed by November 15. The Bridge Corporation has been directed to complete all the projects by November,” he said.
He expressed displeasure over the delay in the projects and warned the officers of action.
Talking to HT, a senior officer, who refused to be named, said, “The chief minister is aware of the fact that roads will play an important role in fighting antiincumbency and pave the way for his return to power. There are five months to go for the assembly election. If he completes the urban and rural road projects before polls, it will send a positive message to the people. Before launching the road and bridge projects, he wants the officers loyal to him on important posts.”
A Samajwadi Party leader said, “Roads were an important factor in Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s return to power for the third consecutive time. Akhilesh wishes to do a Nitish
THE CM REVIEWED THE WORKING OF THE PWD ON SEPTEMBER 19 AND DIRECTED OFFICERS TO COMPLETE THE PENDING PROJECTS ON TIME
by launching massive road and bridge projects before the elections. He is monitoring the expressway, state highway and rural roads project regularly.”
“The central government is also pumping funds into roads to woo the voters. Recently, union minister for roads transport and highways Nitin Gadkari launched several projects in Gorakhpur, Meerut, Varanasi and Lucknow.” The chief minister planned to counter the centre’s roads with his projects like the Agra-Lucknow expressway and district highways, the SP leader said.
Among the other bureaucrats, senior IAS officer Gurdip Singh gets back the post of principal secretary, geology and mining. His earlier transfer to the post of principal secretary, food and civil supplies, stands cancelled..
Principal secretary, transport, Arvind Singh Deo has been shifted to the food and civil supplies department in the same capacity.
Mirtunjay Kumar Narain, who was on the wait list has been made UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) MD. Special secretary, IT and electronics, NKS Chauhan swaps places with special secretary, stamp and registration department, Saroj Kumar. The charge of the commissioner, chakbandi (consolidation), has been withdrawn from secretary, culture, Hari Om.
Commissioner, revenue board, Dheeraj Shahu has been given the additional charge of commissioner, chakbandi. Secretary, health, V Hekali Zhimomi has been given additional charge of project director, community projects, rural development department.
Additional director, National Health Mission, Rajesh Kumar has been made mission director, Skill Development Mission. Special secretary, higher education, Subhra Saxena has been made special secretary, finance department.
Special secretary, APC branch, Karn Singh Chauhan has been made the Pradeshik Cooperative Federation managing director. Special secretary, revenue department, Surendra Kumar has been made the vice-chairman of the Bareilly Development Authority.