Gujarat may dole out plots of land to IAS, IPS at cheaper rates

IF THE Narendra Modi government has its way, Gujarat’s IAS, IPS and other senior officers may turn lucky to get plots of land up to 330 sq metres at cheaper rate. This could be possible as the state government is contemplating to revive a scheme lying dormant for 10 years.

A news report in The Indian Express said that all IAS or IPS officers and government officials who had served in Gandhinagar for more than five years would be eligible to get plots measuring from 90 sqm to 330 sqm at concessional rates if this scheme is implemented. Currently, a 330 sq metre plot in Gandhinagar costs about Rs 1.5 crore.

The newspaper quoting unnamed sources said the government was inclined to revive the scheme on account of “very high demand (pressure) from new IAS/IPS officers and other officials who have not been able to get the benefits of the old scheme”.

Gujarat government has a similar policy for MLAs and MPs and former ministers too.

2 retired IAS in Bengal poll fray

Two retired IAS officers were among the candidates that fought West Bengal elections on Monday. Former Andhra Pradesh chief secretary Triloknath Dewan is a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) candidate in Darjeeling, and Sukhvilash Verma, Congress candidate in Jalpaiguri, had served as principal secretary in West Bengal’s agriculture department.

Action and Appointments

a) Shiv Prasad Sharma, a 1991 batch MP cadre Indian Forest Service officer has been appointed as director in the department of animal husbandry.

b) Ms Lopamudra Mohanty, a 1999 batch Indian P and T Accounts and Finance Service officer has been appointed as deputy secretary in the ministry of women and child development.