Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh was on Tuesday transferred and appointed as the commissioner for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Nashik. Maha Metro managing director Shravan Hardikar, who served as the civic chief between 2017 and 2021, was given temporary charge of the municipal corporation till a new appointment is made, a state govt order said.Singh, an IAS officer of the 2012 batch from Maharashtra cadre, took charge as Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) chief in Aug 2022 and played a key role in implementing several major initiatives such as digitisation of departmental works and bringing funds for projects through green bonds. It was during his tenure that the city’s largest anti-encroachment drive in Kudalwadi was carried out. The exercise led to the removal of nearly 4,000 illegal scrap units, industrial set-ups and other establishments spread across 900 acres.During his tenure as PCMC commissioner, the civic body ranked second in state govt’s ‘100 Day Action Plan’. It was also recognised the cleanest city of Maharashtra and ranked seventh in the country under Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. Singh faced criticism over a TDR deal in Wakad where a PMPML depot and a building housing various commercial units was proposed. The opposition parties alleged irregularities in the deal, following which it was put on hold.In his new role, Singh will oversee key infrastructure projects being undertaken as part of preparations for the Kumbh Mela in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, scheduled between 2026 and 2028.State govt also transferred Ayush Prasad, district collector of Jalgaon, and appointed him as the collector of Nashik. Prasad will replace Jalaj Sharma, who was appointed as the commissioner of Nashik Metropolitan Region Development Authority.Sharma took charge of the collectorate of Nashik in July 2023 and was about to complete the three-year tenure. Prasad also took charge of Jalgaon at the same time. Rohan Ghuge, who is currently the CEO of Thane Zilla Parishad, will replace Prasad as the collector of Jalgaon. Sanjay Kolte, managing director of Shivshahi Rehabilitation Project, Mumbai, was appointed as sugar commissioner, Pune, a post that is currently vacant.
