Taking a U turn within a few days, the Maharashtra government on Friday undertook a major rejig in the BMC administration and shunted out its Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi (IAS:1984:MH). Senior IAS officer IS Chahal (IAS:1989:MH) will replace Pardeshi.
On May 4 only, the state government had issued a GR, asserting that no official would be transferred in the current year, in order not to disturb the on-going fight against the COVID-19.
However, ignoring its own stand, the government has shifted Pardeshi to the Urban Development Department.
Pardeshi was under fire for his inability to handle the situation arising out of the COVID-19 spread in the mega city.
The BMC Chief was shown the door within 24 hours, after a central team led by Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal visited the city, and asked the state administration to increase quarantine facilities and strictly implement the containment strategy.
Alarmed at the rising cases in Mumbai, the central team also stressed on increasing the doubling rate of corona cases.
The BMC had been under fire for mismanagement, after a video of its Sion Hospital went viral, showing patients being treated alongside dead bodies. An, being the Commissioner, Pardeshi was the main target for his perceived failure in effectively fighting the coronavirus.
