Shanta in ‘damage’ control mode

As the officiating Chief Secretary (CS) of Punjab,S S Brar’s long-cherished dream to head the state bureaucracy finally came true recently when Chief Secretary Subodh Agarwal went on leave for 15 days. And the turn of events ensured that his fortnightly stint went on record. During his tenure as the officiating CS,the state saw some exigencies — “new” BJP ministers were sworn in,Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s wife Surinder Kaur Badal passed away and there were some important files to be cleared. Once a top contender for the post,Brar’s dream did finally come true. With so much happening,even a fortnight can be an unforgettable stint.

Go Green ‘marathon’

How green can one go? Haryana Principal Secretary (Housing) S K Gulati recently presented a rare example. While delivering the inaugural address at the National Conference on Green Buildings organised by the PHD Chamber,Gulati spoke on everything green except buildings. He spoke on green vision (think to grow),green minds (have an open mind),green lives (live stress free) and even green mindsets. The speech lasted for a good 20 minutes or more but the only thing he didn’t refer to were green buildings that focus on energy efficiency and resource conservation in the structure. But he received a standing ovation nevertheless.

Beating the heat,Capt style

Amid the “heat” generated by appointments to the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee,state Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh was reported to be in the cool environs of his estate at Dochi in Himachal Pradesh. And not without a reason too. The occasion,it was widely speculated,was the birthday of his Pakistani journalist friend,Aroosa Alam. Among those invited were the ones whose appointment had created a furore. But his friends were quick to deny the news. “Captain was in Patiala and we were at our homes,” one of them said. As for Dochi,the erstwhile Maharaja of Patiala frequents it anyway,to beat the heat that is — both within and outside the party.

Right to be Info Commissioner

The Right to Information (RTI) Act may be a common man’s key to seek information from babus,but for them and others who can “qualify” as information commissioners,it is a key to plum posting. With six posts of information commissioners becoming vacant before the state goes to polls next year,hectic lobbying is on. The authorities that matter are getting at least three calls a day from aspirants. One anonymous call was on political affiliations of the commissioners. When told that some were from the Akali Dal and some Congress,pat came the reply: “So,BJP patrons have a chance.” The lobbying is also keeping RTI activists busy. They are now trying to unravel the truth behind who will make it to the corridors of the watchdog and how.