The Hindu : New Vice-chairman of DDA

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 09, 2003

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New Vice-chairman of DDA

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI APRIL 8. Anil Baijal, an IAS officer of the 1969 batch, took over as the new Vice-Chairman of Delhi Development Authority today. And in doing so he became the third officer after the Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Urban Development, P.K. Hota, and Additional Secretary in the Labour Ministry, Suman Swaroop, to occupy the chair since the unceremonial ouster of Subhash Sharma, who was charged and arrested recently by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a corruption case.

Mr Baijal, who was Additional Secretary in the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, has vast and varied experience of working in various capacities in different ministries and public sector undertakings. He was also Principal Secretary to Madan Lal Khurana when he was the Chief Minister of Delhi.

Having worked as Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati; Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar and Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Airlines, Mr Baijal enjoys high credentials. His also has experience of working as Joint Director in the Central Department of Civil Aviation, Commissioner of Sales Tax and Excise, Delhi's Home Secretary, Development Commissioner of Goa, and Councellor incharge of India Aid Mission in Nepal.

A press note issued by DDA said the priority areas of work for Mr Baijal, who is "known for his straightforwardness, integrity and dynamic approach'', will be to give a new direction to the working of DDA -- which has been rocked by the latest scam -- and to bring in a noticeable change in its work culture, introduce transparency and ensure quick delivery of quality services to Delhiites.

Meanwhile, the Additional Commissioner of DDA, A.K. Jain, has replaced the Commissioner (Planning), Vijay Risbud, who had been charged by the CBI in a corruption case following raids conducted on his premises on March 27. Another accused DDA official, Director (Lands), Jagdish Chander, has also been replaced by R.K. Sharma.

Both the accused officials have been suspended and letters to the effect, signed by Delhi's Lieutenant-Governor, Vijai Kapoor, who is also the Chairman of DDA, were delivered to them on April 7.

Incidentally, on April 4 the transfer orders for four officers including Jagdish Chander were issued. But the name of Vijay Risbud was not in the four as there was "no post parallel to his in DDA. However, sources said, under constant pressure from the CBI, which is directly under the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, who had not long ago noted that DDA was among the most corrupt organizations in the land, Risbud and Chander were summarily suspended.

The officials noted that Risbud's phenomenal rise in the organization had more to do with his links than merit alone. He had superseded five others when he was promoted to Deputy Director (Planning) from an Assistant Director. And then again he superseded three officers in becoming Commissioner (Planning). It was while holding the post that he increased the floor area ratio of a building for which he was charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act by the CBI.

As for Jagdish Chander, he moves out after serving as Director (Lands) for nearly 10 years. This long stay has also raised several eyebrows as per the Government directive an official needs to be transferred every three years. That Chander managed to linger on in the lucrative Lands section speaks of his high connections and support from various political quarters.

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