FP NEWS SERVICE Ujjain The sudden transfer of Ujjain Municipal Corporation ( UMC) Commissioner Mahesh Chandra Chaudhari ( IAS) on Friday has given rise to different speculations.
State government made him Collector of Chhindwara dis
trict which is him like a gift as he got the collectorship for the first time; but so far as local affairs are concerned this news came like a surprise to many as despite his hard efforts to streamline the arrangements none of peoplesalt39representatives or the ruling party BJPs senior functionaries liked his efforts.
After Ajit Kesari, Chaudhari was the second IAS officer who was made Municipal commissioner here and the government effected this administrative arrangement after 2002- 2003 in the wake of preparations for the Simhastha Fair- 2016. He joined the office of CMC on September 2 and very soon won the accolades of common people by strictly enforcing his announcement that nobody will be allowed to demand or take alt145 percentagealt39in the construction works or in supply of different items.
Secondly, he also divested many tainted engineers and officers from key postings and bestowed responsibilities to comparatively clean image engineers and officers.
It is said that the Lok Ayukta police could trap or raid at most corrupt employees of the UMC during last six months only due to Chaudharis interest. Moreover, he also opened new vistas of development in the form of road widening exercise.
These were the prime works and activities which brought name and fame for the UMC; but the political leadership never supported him. His campaign against the unauthorized constructions and illegal encroachments is learnt to have proved costly for him as the lobby in connivance with influential peoplesalt39representatives and BJP leaders made huge pressure on the government for Chaudharis ouster. As soon as information of his transfer reached here, a number of his opponents expressed cheer; whereas some employees expressed nervousness. On being contacted, Mayor Rameshwar Akhand, who was coincidently camping at Bhopal on Friday, told Free Press that Chaudhari wanted his transfer from here. He also said that he would not suggest or recommend anybodys name as his replacement.
Meanwhile, inputs suggest that Chauhari will join as Chhindwara Collector next week. According to sources, several officers, who had worked here in different capacities earlier, have started efforts to become the CMC. When being asked, Chaudhari said that he has been given the new responsibility only due to blessings of the Lord Mahakal.
He also said that he likes challenges and whenever he is asked to discharge duty at Ujjain in view of Simhastha Fair, he will find himself as lucky.
