File picture: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee throughout a hundred and twenty fifth delivery anniversary of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.
The union authorities on Friday ordered West Bengal to relieve Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay for additional posting at Centre. The transfer got here hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s overview assembly on harm brought on by cyclone Yaas which was skipped by chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
In its order, the DoPT mentioned, “Approved the placement of Alapan Bandyopadhyay (West Bengal Chief Secretary) with the Government of India. Accordingly, the State Govt is requested to relieve him with immediate effect and direct him to report to the Dept of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Delhi by 31st May.”
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Bandyopadhyay, a 1987-batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, was scheduled to retire on May 31 after completion of 60 years of age. However, he was granted a three-month extension following a nod from the Centre.
Mamata Banerjee had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 12, urging him to grant Bandyopadhyay an extension for at least six months in view of his expertise of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a communique to the state authorities, the Personnel Ministry on Friday mentioned the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has authorised the position of the companies of Bandyopadhyay with Government of India as per provisions of the Indian Administrative Service (cadre) Rules, 1954, “with immediate effect”.
While asking the state authorities to relieve the officer with speedy impact, it additionally directed Bandyopadhyay to report to the Department of Personnel and Training, North Block, New Delhi by 10 am on May 31.
The IAS cadre rule says a cadre officer could, with the concurrence of the state governments involved and the central authorities, be deputed for service underneath the central authorities or one other state authorities.
“Provided that in case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the central government and the state government or state governments concerned shall give effect to the decision of the central government,” it says.
Bandyopadhyay took over because the chief secretary of West Bengal after Rajiva Sinha retired in September final 12 months.
Earlier within the day in a shock improvement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped a overview assembly performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Kalaikunda Air Force Station close to Kharagpur to assess the damages brought on by extreme cyclonic storm Yaas that hit the state on Wednesday.
The overview assembly snowballed right into a political controversy after Banerjee personally met the Prime Minister earlier than the assembly and submitted a duplicate of the damages brought on by the cyclone to him. She even left the Air Force Station earlier than the assembly commenced.
Sources within the administration confirmed that Banerjee had requested for a separate assembly with Modi forward of the overview assembly convened by the Prime Minister.
Accordingly, a slot of quarter-hour was allotted throughout which Banerjee submitted an in depth report of the damages brought on by the storm, primarily in three districts, to Modi.
Though there was no official briefing on the assembly between the 2 leaders up to now, sources shut to the Chief Minister confirmed that the state authorities has submitted within the report that Bengal incurred harm to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore due to the extreme cyclonic storm.
According to the state authorities officers, three districts confronted the brunt of the cyclone essentially the most — South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and East Midnapore.
Digha, Shakarpur and Mandarman — the three main vacationer hubs of the state — had been the worst affected by the storm.
In the 15-minute assembly, Banerjee briefed the Prime Minister concerning the damages triggered to the agricultural fields, residential buildings, embankments and roads.
(With IANS inputs)
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