No clarity over Shahjahanabad project chief’s appointment

NEW DELHI: With no clarity over the appointment of Sarvagya Srivastava as new chairman of Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Development Corporation (SRDC), the board meeting held on Monday was inconclusive.

HT Image

Sources in the Delhi government said as Delhi lieutenantgovernor Najeeb Jung had not approved the appointment of Srivastava, board members were apprehensive whether any decision taken under his chairmanship would be valid. Consequently, no decision on stalled Shahjahanabad redeveloped project could be taken.

“No proposal was deliberated pertaining to Shahjahanabad redevelopment work because of uncertainty over the appointment of new chairman. Hence, the meeting was adjourned until October 3,” source said.

Srivastava, an engineer, was appointed as secretary in the PublicWork Department by the AAP government in February. He was also given the charge of SRDC. However, the L-G overruled the decision and replaced him with Senior IAS officer Ashwani Kumar last month saying the appointment was in violation of the government’s cadre rule.

Despite repeated attempts, Srivastava could not be reached for the comment.

SRDC director Alka Lamba said the board reached a unanimous decision that the L-G would be requested to clear the files related to the appointment of the chairman. “We have also been demanding that SRDC should be given power of a municipal body so that it can take decision on its own and work without hindrance.”