Delhi Underground

Changing season

Several top officials of the Delhi government are expected to move on by the end of this month. The reshuffle was put on hold especially so that they can prepare a comprehensive defence to give to various audit committees,including the Shunglu Commission. The last date for submission of the papers ended last week. The list of officials who are expected to leave soon include NDMC chairman Parimal Rai,MCD chairman K S Mehra,Special Secretary to the Chief Minister Keshav Chandra and DDA VC Ashok Nigam. The other two prominent persons expected to be redesignated are Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister P K Tripathi. While the fate of the former is not known,Tripathi is tipped to be the next Chief Secretary of Delhi.

Sweet nothings

When Aamir Khan came to the Parliament wearing a bandana and looking his best,the members and staff were all smitten. But the actor left some of them bitter when he refused a rasagulla offered by Speaker Meira Kumar. When she said “Muh meetha toh karna padega”,Aamir refused the sweet saying he was on a diet plan. One of the officials,miffed about the attitude,said they couldn’t understand why Parliament was calling Bollywood actors to its sessions when they don’t show any respect to the ministers and the members. “It wouldn’t have hurt him to have a little of the rasagulla that the Speaker offered,” the official said.

A cuppa for the cops

The new Delhi Police Commissioner has introduced a tea service for all PCR vans at night. B K Gupta has ordered that all 2,000-plus PCR personnel in the 600 PCR vans in the city will be served a “hot cup of tea” at night. To meet the requirement of the staff,the department will arrange for 25 steel containers of 10-litre capacity each and 2,000 disposable glasses each night.

MCD’s image of babus sitting behind desks crumbling under the weight of dusty files is set to change once they shift to the new modern MCD headquarters on Minto Road. Officials were expected to computerise the details in the files and leave them behind in the rows of almirahs that congest Townhall. However,old habits die hard and officials have been found carrying the old files to the new address. So while from the outside,the 28-storey building looks sleek,from the inside,its a new Townhall in the making.

The Captain’s team

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit visited Orissa for a few hours last week to receive an honourary doctorate from a private institute. A huge delegation,including some of her Cabinet colleagues and government officials,accompanied her. Asked why Dikshit was taking such a huge entourage,an official involved in making arrangements for the trip joked: “After all,we need people in the audience who’ll clap when the Chief Minister receives the award!” Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely,Social Welfare Minister Mangat Ram Singhal,Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta and Principal Secretary P K Tripathi were among those who tagged along.