New MCG, HUDA chief is 'missing' in action

GURGAON: Work in both civic agencies MCG and HUDA has been affected over the past few days, ever since the new chief Vikas Yadav has joined, according to officials. It has been a week since Yadav took over as head of both agencies, but he has hardly been seen in the offices, they claim.
He, though, has already travelled twice to Chandigarh. In the two days he was in Gurgaon, he was busy attending senior state government officials visiting the city.
Officials complain that work in both the departments has virtually come to a standstill. "The commissioner spent barely an hour in office on Tuesday, the day he joined. The next day he went to Chandigarh for some official work. On Thursday and Friday, he was busy with the urban local bodies' department chief who was in Gurgaon. Today (Monday) he is again in Chandigarh on official tour. Our work is definitely getting affected as the files are pending and we need his approval in many things," said a senior MCG official.
Most MCG and HUDA employees are hoping the situation won't last. "It is true he bears a lot of responsibility as he handles two important departments. However, this also requires him spending more time in the offices, something he has not been able to do so far. While it is too early to comment on his capability, all I can say is that the government should view the matter seriously and take immediate steps to address the problem," said another official. More specifically, some MCG engineers said that at the least, some estimates and approvals need to be cleared before the model code of conduct comes into force.
Vikas Yadav could not be contacted for comments. Some senior officials in the urban local bodies department, though, expressed concern over his dual charge.
"It is surprising that a single person has been given charge of HUDA and MCG, both important bodies. While nobody knows why this was done, it seems the situation will change after the elections in October and a new government takes charge. Till then it is unlikely that the situation would improve," said a HUDA official.