Did Center Carry Out 'Surgical Strike' On DDA? Gaffe and Challenges, New VC Has To Stand On Promises

Center has carried out a 'surgical strike' on DDA, many in power corridors say. Shunting out Manish Gupta and many officials posted in DDA indicates that everything was not going well between the echelons of DDA and the Urban Affairs Ministry. Top sources say that there are a few reasons which could be attributed to this flare-up between DDA and the Ministry. The first one is internal nepotism and corruption which was silently brewing up. Second, a major communication and coordination gaffe with the urban affairs ministry may include- lack of proper briefings on reconstruction and re-development plans of Delhi ahead of G-20 to top echelons of the ministry and South Block establishment,  top sources suggest. These developments in DDA especially its administrative behavior annoyed not only the Urban Affairs ministry but the south block establishment as well, consequently, everyone in DDA almost paid the price for it. Though Manish Gupta, outgoing Vice Chairman of DDA did try to control the storm and even made a few attempts for extension, however, it was too late, sources suggest. Now, the incoming VC of DDA Subashish Panda has a new challenge to stand on the promises made to center and reboot the DDA to a fresh one so that as an institution, DDA can effectively and efficiently work on developmental models ahead of G-20. Sources say that Panda is an extremely bright administrator and a hard taskmaster who knows how to handle the job, especially during crisis situations.