UPRERA CHIEF, MEMBERS TAKE OATH
The authority, which came into force on May 1, 2017, set to get cracking now
LUCKNOW : Former chief secretary Rajive Kumar was sworn in as the new full-time chairman of UP Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UPRERA) by governor Ram Naik at a simple function here in Raj Bhawan on Thursday. Governor Naik also administered oath of office to three other members on the UPRERA panel-Balwinder Kumar, a retired civil servant, Kalpana Mishra and Bhanu Pratap Singh, former judicial officer and IPS officer respectively.
LUCKNOW: Former chief secretary Rajive Kumar was sworn in as the new full-time chairman of UP Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UPRERA) by governor Ram Naik at a simple function here in Raj Bhawan on Thursday.
Governor Naik also administered oath of office to three other members on the UPRERA panel-Balwinder Kumar, a retired civil servant, Kalpana Mishra and Bhanu Pratap Singh, former judicial officer and IPS officer respectively.
Rajive Kumar, who superannuated on June 30, 2018 replaces Nitin Ramesh Gokarn, principal secretary, housing, who till now was also officiating as UPRERA chief. The Authority came into force on May 1, 2017, but the state government was unable to appoint a full-time chairman and members on the real-estate watchdog body more than a year after it was established.
The real estate watchdog body, however, is yet to have a proper office of its own and operates from the old Lucknow Development Authority building in Lalbagh and houses the office of UPRERA secretary Abrar Ahmed.
Soon after swearing-in ceremony got over, Kumar and the three other members visited the LDA office and were taken round by Ahmed, who briefed them about the Authority’s performance and set up. “We are on the look out for a proper office premises for the chairman and members and have short-listed a couple of government buildings for the purpose. A final decision on the issue would be taken by the chairman,” said a senior housing department official requesting anonymity.
While Kumar has a long administrative experience, Balwinder Kumar is an IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre and retired as secretary of Union Government in 2017. He has also held the position of vice chairman of Delhi Development Authority and the LDA. A former IPS officer, Bhanu Pratap Singh retired on June 30, 2017 as DG (Vigilance) while Kalpana Mishra is from judicial services and has been a district judge
Deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, minister of state for Housing and Urban Planning Suresh Pasi, chief secretary Anup Chandra Pandey, DGP O P Singh, principal secretary to governor Hemant Rao, principal secretary, Home, Arvindra Kumar, principal secretary, Housing, Nitin Ramesh Gokarna attended the swearing-in ceremony.