Catch them (not so)  young ..... new development mantra of UP government 

Sanjay Bhatnagar
Published on: 27 July 2017 6:00 AM GMT
Catch them (not so)  young ..... new development mantra of UP government 
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Catch them (not so)  young ..... new development mantra of UP government 

Lucknow: It was about two decades ago when the 1976-batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre made waves on the national as well as international scene through his efficient urban civic planning followed by a plum post in the World Bank. Time elapsed notwithstanding, the unassuming officer, now retired, has been asked to impart his expertise to tone up civic bodies in Uttar Pradesh.

The advisory role of Keshav Saran Varma, hailing from UP, has been sought by the new Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Rajive Kumar who is endeavouring to rope in not only Varma but many such retired officers who hailed from this land and now retired. '' The talks with several such officers may have started on a lighter note that they should pay back what they owe to their native land, are gaining shape as the UP government is more than a game to use their experience, expertise and efficiency for betterment of the state,'' Rajive Kumar told newstrack.com.

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He said to start with Keshav Saran Varma has been asked to suggest a roadmap for 4-5 municipal corporations in terms of better civic amenities including schools, hospitals, sewer, lighting. "We look forward to take his advice on the civic matters and implement in the larger interest of the state", he stated.

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It may be recalled that many international accolades were showered on Varma for how he turned around the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) making it as one profit-making body.The AMC had earned kudos from the World Bank and was the first municipal corporation in Asia to be rated by CRISIL.

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Not only this, Varma was also one of the founder members of the Sabarmati project in Gujarat being part of the Special Purpose Vehicle — Sabarmati Riverfront Development Corporation Ltd (SRFDCL), which executed the the project. Retiring in 2014 as Sector Director for East Asia Pacific Urban, after a 16-year stint in the World Bank, Keshav Varma is rearing to share his experience with his native state of UP.

Such experiment will be on the lines of Modi government's decision to get services of a retired IAS Parameswaran Iyer in the field of drinking water and sanitation.

By Sanjay Bhatnagar

Sanjay Bhatnagar

Sanjay Bhatnagar

Writer is a bi-lingual journalist with experience of about three decades in print media before switching over to digital media. He is a political commentator and covered many political events in India and abroad.

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