PANJIM: A day after media reports exposed financial irregularities of Smart City Mission, the State government shunted out its Managing Director and CEO Swayandipta Pal Chaudhuri, who was under scanner of the Auditors.
IAS Hemant Kumar, Commissioner of State Taxes, will hold additional charge as MD and CEO of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL). The officer is currently on leave.
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In an order issued on Tuesday, it is said that Director of Urban Development will hold the charge of the post of MD and CEO of IPSCDL, in addition to his own duties, with immediate effect, till Kumar, resumes duty after availing earned leave. Herald had reported that during recently conducted Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Audit of IPSCDL had raised questions on the appointment of Chaudhuri, whose term had ended in July 2019. He was appointed in July, 2016 for a period of three years.
Subsequently, he was employed at GSIDC as Executive Director (Finance) on December 15, 2015 on monthly salary being Rs 72,600. The CAG pointed out that the government did not issue any formal order in respect to his salary fixation, which meant that in such a case and as per the Government of India — Smart City Mission Guidelines Chaudhuri was only eligible to draw his current pay plus 10 per cent extra towards deputation charges for the positions at IPSCDL.
