Aurangabad, Nov 11:
The state government has granted an extension of three more months to the administrator of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Astik Kumar Pandey. He was appointed for a period of six months after the tenure of the current civic body ended in April. Meanwhile, the term got completed in October. Hence, he got the extension till January 31, 2021.
As reported earlier, the general elections of AMC were due to be held in April 2020, but due to a pandemic situation, the state government postponed the elections for an indefinite period. Meanwhile, the state government, to look after the civic affairs, had given the additional responsibility of an administrator to the municipal commissioner for six months.
Pandey is handling the responsibility very tactfully and has taken many drastic measures to control the pandemic situation in the city and in bringing reforms in the functioning of AMC. He also took steps of granting ''due'' promotions to civic officials.
Meanwhile, it is predicted that the state election commission (SEC) may hold the AMC elections in April 2021. Earlier, when it planned to conduct elections in April 2020, few alert citizens of Aurangabad challenged the election schedule and process of declaring reservation of wards (on a rotation basis) in the Supreme Court. The final hearing upon the petition is due. However, the SEC has started preparations to hold the elections and is eagerly awaiting the verdict of the Apex Court.