Praveen Pardeshi strayed, Iqbal Chahal is the new BMC boss as Covid-19 deaths cross 400

Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi (pictured) to be replaced by Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development) Iqbal Singh Chahal

In a major development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray diverted Praveen Pardeshi from the post of Mumbai civic commissioner on Friday.

At the epicenter of the new coronavirus pandemic in Maharashtra, Mumbai has so far reported 11,394 cases and 437 deaths. Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development) Iqbal Singh Chahal has replaced Pardeshi for the position of civic commissioner. Pardeshi has been transferred as the new Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development).

Thackeray also moved from the Mumbai Additional Municipal Commissioner, Abbasaheb Jarhad. Former Thane municipal commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal, who was on mandatory hold, will succeed Jarhad. Jarhad will assume the position of Secretary, Relief and Rehabilitation of Kishoreraje Nimbalkar, who has recently been appointed Secretary of the Department of Public Works.

Ashwini Bhide, former Managing Director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, will also take on the role of additional municipal commissioner in the Mumbai civic corps. She has succeeded Jayshree Bhoj for the position. Bhide had previously been dispatched on a special assignment to the BMC to assist with COVID-19 control measures.

At the time of filing this report, senior officials confirmed that the transfer orders had been signed but had not yet been issued.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For the latest news from Mumbai, download the Indian Express app.

© The Indian Express (P) Ltd