Ex-Maharashtra chief secretary to finally vacate bungalow

State finance commission chairman JP Dange will finally move out of the accommodation provided to him during his previous stint as the chief secretary (CS). A government resolution (GR) has been adopted to facilitate him to vacate the bungalow, which will be allotted to incumbent CS Ratnakar Gaikwad.

Dange will be asked to shift to an alternative accommodation soon.

Gaikwad has been staying at the official residence provided by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority at Bandra even after taking over as the CS in January this year.

Although the general administration department had set aside a bungalow opposite the Mantralaya for him, an official GR on it was not issued. Picking holes, Dange refused to vacate the bungalow and insisted on continuing to live there on the grounds that he’s still in government service.

Dange’s official service ended in June this year due to superannuation. Though he has been given an extension as head of the finance commission, he will now be asked to move to another residence to make way for Gaikwad.

Mantralaya sources said since Dange is not willing to vacate, higher authorities, including chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, may have to step in. The GR issued will facilitate the process, he said. 
But, Dange claimed that he has not received any official communiqué.