Alarmed by a surge in COVID-19 cases and fatalities in Gujarat, the centre has reportedly directed the state administration for course correction to contain the pandemic.
Acting on centre’s directions, the state government has handed overall charge of Ahmedabad city to senior IAS officer Dr Rajeev Kumar Gupta (IAS:1986:GJ). Gupta will oversee the efforts of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in containing the pandemic.
Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra (IAS:2001:GJ), who contacted a corona infected person, has been sent home for two-week quarantine. Nehra has been replaced by senior IAS Mukesh Kumar (IAS:1996:GJ) from Gandhi Nagar.
Another senior IAS Pankaj Kumar (IAS:1986:GJ) will guide the efforts of the State Health Department in fighting the coronavirus. The move curtails the powers of Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Jayanti S Ravi (IAS:1991:GJ), whose performance did not meet with the expectations of Delhi.
The higher ups in Delhi, as well as some in the state capital, were not satisfied with the performance of Mr. Nehra and Ms. Ravi in handling the pandemic situation in the city.
According to some inside sources, one more reason for lack of proper handling of the pandemic is being attributed to the visible differences between CM Rupani and his number two Nitin Patel, who also holds charge of the health ministry of the state.
