NAGPUR: The post of vice-chairman-cum-managing director (VC-MD) of Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), the agency developing Mihan project, has once again seen a downgrade. RC Sinha , a retired officer of Additional Chief Secretary's rank, was placed as the first VC-MD of MADC in 2005. Now, Suresh Kakani, who was earlier the collector of Nanded, has got the job.As a district collector, Kakani is an officer of joint secretary's level and his predecessor Vishwas Patil held a secretary equivalent rank. Sources say, after Sinha abruptly resigned in 2009, UPS Madan, an officer of Principal Secretary's rank was the first serving officer to be appointed MADC's VC-MD. This was followed by Tanaji Satre and Patil, who were both secretaries, and now it is joint secretary at the helm.Even as the state's chief minister is ex-officio chairman of MADC, the VC-MD carries out day-to-day affairs of the agency. Being a retired officer, Sinha was appointed under special dispensation. Sinha's resignation followed with appointments of serving IAS officers to the post.Talking to TOI, Kakani admitted that the post was downgraded but the powers and job profile would be the same. The officer said he was of joint secretary's rank and would be taking charge after May 5 after completing his training at Mussorie.Sources in the state's bureaucracy said, there is no fixed criterion for any post. Appointments are made considering administrative convenience. Sometimes, IAS officers of lower rank take up the post earlier held by a senior or vice versa, a source said.On the brighter side, Kakani, who hails from Nagpur, will be having full-time charge for MADC. His predecessor, Patil was the chief of Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), at Mumbai and MADC was additional charge.MADC sources say that the performance of other VC-MDs after Sinha were not noteworthy. However, Sinha's tenure was also mired into controversies. Now, much is expected from the new boss. Tejindersingh Renu , a member of the advisory committee on Mihan, said, "Maybe it is the person and not the rank which matters. The chief minister may have taken a decision considering his abilities." The advisory committee is headed by Gadkari."Vishwas Patil did not make any major contribution to the project during his tenure. The new officer is expected to deliver. Though Patanjali Ayurved Limited has invested in Mihan, that was mainly due to the efforts of Gadkari," said Devendra Parekh , the president of Vidarbha Economic Development Council (VED), and a member of the advisory committee. VED is one of the agencies which came up with the concept of Mihan.VED had also submitted its complaint against Madan alleging that he had too many additional charges and was not able to focus on Mihan.A bureaucrat related to Mihan said Kakani is considered to be one of the efficient officers for the job and is expected to take the project forward.

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