In a major administrative reshuffle, the Punjab government on Saturday transferred 32 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers. Vivek Pratap Singh, IAS, has been appointed as the Principal Secretary Local Government because he is one of the upright officers. He worked in the local body of the system and the AAP government wants to control the corruption in the state. The government has transferred him to control corruption.
Now the question arises - Will he be able to control corruption in local bodies of Punjab?
It is said that the local bodies of Punjab are considered to be one of the most corrupt departments in the state. It includes - Municipal Corporation Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Moga, Pathankot, etc. Along with this, it also includes Municipal Committees and Improvement Trusts.
The major challenge in front of Punjab government is to control corruption and improve the system in these offices. In the last few years, illegal construction of buildings and colonies has become a common practice in Punjab. Illegal constructions are fast progressing in various parts of the state, causing losses worth crores, as the functioning of the town planning wing under Municipal Corporations have come to a halt. Dozens of such buildings have come up within a month, with the active connivance of corporation officials and local politicians.
In Ludhiana and Patiala there are many such buildings — both commercial and residential were allowed construction with the active role of corporation inspectors and top officers. In certain cases, a bribe per building was paid to ensure no action was taken till the completion of work. This has created a menace in the state.
In the coming three months, elections for Municipal Corporation will take place in 3 major cities of Punjab, namely, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Ludhiana. AAP wants to ensure their win in the coming elections, thus, they have appointed Vivek Pratap, a 1996 batch IAS officer to control the corruption in local bodies of Punjab. He has also served as Commissioner in Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and Excise Commissioner in the state. Known for his strict nature, he will ensure that Municipal Corporation works for the betterment of the people.