Chandigarh: The Punjab government has ordered an administrative reshuffle involving one Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and three Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officers, including a change in the leadership of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation.
As part of the reshuffle, 2020-batch IAS officer Ojasvi Alankar, serving as Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, has been transferred and posted as Additional Secretary in the Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management.
PCS officer Ankur Mahindroo, currently serving as Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Sangrur, has been assigned to take over as Commissioner of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation.
The transfer order, issued under the authority of the Governor of Punjab and signed by Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, cites administrative grounds for the changes.
The government has directed the officers concerned to join their new assignments immediately.
The reshuffle comes against the backdrop of a contentious General House meeting of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, during which councillors clashed over voting procedures and several major civic proposals faced opposition.
IAS Ojasvi Alankar Posted as Additional Secretary in Revenue Department
Ojasvi Alankar, a 2020-batch IAS officer, has been relieved of his responsibilities as Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana.
He has been posted as Additional Secretary in the Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Punjab.
The department handles matters relating to revenue administration, rehabilitation, land-related governance and disaster management.
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His transfer marks a shift from municipal administration to a state-level secretariat assignment.
The government order cites administrative grounds and does not specify any other reason for his transfer.
PCS Ankur Mahindroo to Become Ludhiana Municipal Commissioner
Ankur Mahindroo, a 2016-batch PCS officer, has been selected to replace Ojasvi Alankar as Commissioner of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation.
Mahindroo was serving as Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Sangrur.
Under the new arrangement, his services have been placed at the disposal of the Department of Local Government for his posting as Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana.
His new assignment places him in charge of the city’s municipal administration, including the implementation of civic projects, sanitation services, urban infrastructure and municipal governance.
He will take over at a time when the civic body is dealing with major proposals relating to mechanical sweeping, solid waste management and sanitation services.
PCS Vineet Kumar Posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jagraon
The reshuffle also includes the transfer of Vineet Kumar, a 2016-batch PCS officer.
Kumar was serving as Joint Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, while simultaneously holding the responsibility of Chief Executive Officer of Ludhiana Urban Water and Waste Water Management Limited.
He has now been posted as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jagraon, replacing PCS officer Manjit Singh Cheema.
However, the government has allowed Vineet Kumar to continue holding the additional responsibility of Chief Executive Officer of Ludhiana Urban Water and Waste Water Management Limited.
The arrangement means he will take up his new administrative assignment in Jagraon while retaining his responsibilities in the urban water and wastewater management company.
PCS Manjit Singh Cheema Directed to Report to Personnel Department
Manjit Singh Cheema, a 2014-batch PCS officer who was serving as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jagraon, has been relieved of the position following Vineet Kumar’s appointment.
He has been directed to report to the Department of Personnel for further orders.
The government has not specified a new posting for Cheema in the order.
Authorities have also been instructed to make suitable internal arrangements for the work of posts that become vacant as a result of the reshuffle.
Transfers Follow Stormy Ludhiana Municipal Corporation Meeting
The administrative changes come a day after a stormy General House meeting of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation.
The meeting witnessed heated exchanges between councillors, disagreements over voting procedures and allegations from opposition members that dissenting views were not being properly recorded.
The proceedings were also marked by a walkout involving more than 300 municipal employees.
Despite the disruptions, the House cleared several important agenda items relating to sanitation, waste management and municipal services.
Among the proposals approved was a mechanical sweeping project estimated at ₹82 crore.
The project became a major point of contention during the proceedings, with opposition councillors questioning aspects of the decision-making process.
The House also cleared a major solid waste management proposal, reflecting the city’s ongoing focus on urban sanitation and waste disposal infrastructure.
Another significant decision concerned the extension of services for more than 1,200 outsourced sanitation workers.
The civic body approved a one-year extension for these workers, whose services form part of the city’s sanitation arrangements.
However, opposition members raised objections over the manner in which certain resolutions were passed and alleged that their dissent was not adequately reflected in the proceedings.
New Municipal Commissioner Faces Important Civic Responsibilities
With Ankur Mahindroo set to assume charge as Municipal Commissioner, the Ludhiana civic administration will enter a new phase of leadership.
The change comes at a time when the Municipal Corporation is handling important decisions concerning sanitation services, solid waste management, mechanical sweeping and urban infrastructure.
The implementation of projects approved during the recent General House meeting will be among the matters requiring administrative attention.
Meanwhile, Ojasvi Alankar will move to the Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Department, while Vineet Kumar will assume his new position as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jagraon, alongside his continuing responsibility for the urban water and wastewater management company.
Although the reshuffle closely follows the contentious municipal meeting, the official transfer order cites administrative grounds. It does not establish any connection between the meeting and the transfers.
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