Pune: PCMC Implements Unprecedented Administrative Changes Led by Commissioner Shekhar Singh
Pimpri, 4th February 2024: In a significant reshuffle within the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Commissioner and Administrator Shekhar Singh has orchestrated key alterations, sparking considerable debate over the transfers. Notably, responsibilities from the portfolios of Additional Commissioners Vijaykumar Khorate and Ulhas Jagtap have been reassigned to Joint Commissioner Chandrakant Indalkar, a departure from the conventional hierarchy.
This administrative overhaul marks a departure from established norms as the Commissioner, for the first time, has transferred duties from an Additional Commissioner to a Joint Commissioner. A palpable discontent among officers has surfaced, particularly with the frequent changes in the roles of Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners.
Currently, the PCMC houses three positions for Additional Commissioners. Two of these positions are occupied by officers on deputation, namely Pradeep Jambhale Patil, Vijaykumar Khorate, and local officer Ulhas Jagtap. In an unprecedented move, Commissioner Singh has relieved Additional Commissioner Khorate of the responsibilities of the Sky Sign And License Department. Simultaneously, Joint Commissioner Indalkar has been entrusted with the duties previously held by Additional Commissioner Jagtap, which include Disaster Management, Legal, Labor Welfare Department, and the Citizen’s Facilitation Centers.
An intriguing aspect of these changes lies in the transfer of significant departments to Joint Commissioners, indicative of a reduction in the powers traditionally held by Additional Commissioners. Historically, Joint Commissioners operated under the purview of Additional Commissioners, but with this realignment, they now directly control pivotal departments.
Furthermore, alterations have been introduced in the functions of the City Engineer and Chief Engineer. City Engineer Makarand Nikam now oversees the comprehensive control of the Building Permission and Unauthorised Construction Control Department, and Town Planning work across all field offices. Chief Engineer Shrikant Savane has assumed responsibility for Water Supply and construction projects, while Chief Engineer Ramdas Tambe has been entrusted with Gardens and Sports Construction, Environmental Engineering, Drainage Department, and Slum Development, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Department.
In a parallel development, Dr. Abhaychandra Dadewar, the Additional Medical Officer of Health, has been appointed as the Head of the Department of YCM Hospital. Simultaneously, Dean Dr. Rajendra Vable has been assigned the responsibility of educational work related to the Post Graduate Institute.
