Punjab govt to abolish posts of ADC (Urban Development)

Rajmeet Singh

Chandigarh, July 27

Reversing the decision of the previous Congress government, the AAP is all set to abolish the posts of Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development) in the Local Government, barring those in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda and SAS Nagar Municipal Corporations.

The issue is likely to be tabled in tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting. As per the proposal mooted by the department, the posts of ADC (Urban Development) in 17 districts would be abolished and their work will be delegated to ADCs (General) or MC Commissioners in their respective districts.

EXEMPTION IN SIX DISTRICTS

• The posts of ADC (Urban Development) in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda and SAS Nagar districts won’t be abolished
• The decision has been taken on the basis of the high workload in these districts

The state government recently reviewed the workload of the IAS/PCS officers posted as ADC (Urban Development) in different districts and found them underworked, adding avoidable administrative expenditure. At many places, the ADC (Urban Development) posted in areas such as Fazilka, Sardulgarh, Kapurthala and Nawanshahr had two to five civic bodies under their jurisdiction while in others, they didn’t even a have a proper office to operate.

When contacted, Local Bodies Minister Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjer said he could comment only after going through the proposal.

In February 2021, the Congress government led by Capt Amarinder Singh had abolished six posts of Regional Deputy Director to make way for adjustment of 22 IAS/PCS officers to look after the work of the Local Government.

“In 2021, the then Cabinet had approved the creation of 22 posts of ADC (Urban Development) at all district headquarters in the state in place of the Regional Deputy Director to boost efficiency in the functioning of the Urban Local Bodies. Now, the government has cited underwork as the reason. It was a known fact at the time the decision was taken in 2021,” said an official in the Local Government.

The ADCs (Urban Development) were delegated powers under different Acts and the Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995.

MOVE TO REDUCE EXPENSES

The state government recently reviewed the workload of the IAS/PCS officers posted as ADC (Urban Development) in different districts and found them underworked, hence adding avoidable administrative expenditure