CHANDIGARH: In a significant indication of the Nayab Singh Saini government tightening its grip on administrative accountability, Haryana has transferred 14 IAS and HCS officers in a major late-night reshuffle, bringing about sweeping changes in the leadership of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) and Gurgaon Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).The seven IAS and seven HCS officers were shifted through orders issued on Tuesday night. The exercise assumes significance as it follows Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s participation in a district grievances committee meeting in Gurgaon, where civic complaints and administrative shortcomings came under scrutiny.Sources said the Chief Minister’s Office had also issued a warning to officials last week over complaints concerning the city’s civic administration.While insiders view the reshuffle as a punitive administrative exercise and a signal that the government is losing patience with officials over persistent grievances, government sources maintained that the transfers were part of a routine exercise that had been due for some time.The most significant changes are at the top of the two key urban bodies.IAS officer Dusmanta Kumar Behera, who to was serving as Commissioner and Secretary, Human Resources and General Administration departments, has been appointed CEO of GMDA and Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA), replacing Phool Chand Meena.Meena has been posted as Commissioner and Secretary of the two departments.Pankaj, a 2020-batch IAS officer who was serving as Municipal Commissioner of Panipat, has been appointed MCG Commissioner and District Municipal Commissioner, Gurgaon. He replaces Pradeep Dahiya, who has been posted as Managing Director of Haryana State Federation of Cooperative Sugar Mills and Director, State Audit Department.Mohd Imran Raza has been appointed Additional CEO of GMDA, replacing Vishwajeet Chaudhary, who will continue as CEO of Gurgaon Metropolitan City Bus Limited. Ankita Choudhary, Additional Commissioner of MCG, has been transferred as Municipal Commissioner and District Municipal Commissioner, Panipat.Among other IAS transfers, Shakti Singh has been appointed Director, Sports, and Special Secretary in the Sports Department. He will also hold the charge of Director, Human Resources.The seven HCS officers transferred include Virat, who has been posted as Deputy Secretary, Haryana Public Service Commission; Manoj Khatri as Secretary, Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran; Prashant as General Manager, Irrigation; and Jitender Kumar as District Registrar, Firms and Societies, Gurgaon, in addition to his existing responsibilities.Anil Kumar Yadav has been posted as District Municipal Commissioner, Mahendragarh, while Ranbir Singh has been appointed Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, NIT Faridabad. Arpit Gahlawat has been posted as Deputy Secretary in the Finance Department.The reshuffle comes against the backdrop of mounting public complaints over Gurgaon’s civic infrastructure and service delivery. The changes are being seen within the administration as a clear signal that the government intends to attach greater responsibility to officials handling public grievances. @Prachi Kumawat
