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New Delhi: IAS officer Sanjeev Khirwar who came under fire in 2022 for clearing a Delhi sports stadium to "walk his dog, has now been appointed as the new MCD commissioner. Khirwar was transferred to Ladakh from Delhi in May 2022 after his move sparked a controversy.
The Union Home Ministry appointed Khirwar, a 1994-batch Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre IAS officer, as the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). In an official order, the Ministry of Home Affairs notified Khirwar's appointment and communicated to the office of the Lt Governor of Delhi. The MCD Commissioner is tasked with overseeing the corporation’s daily functions, implementing policies and coordinating with various departments.
What happened in 2022
Khirwar came under sharp criticism in 2022 amid allegations that the bureaucrat cleared the Delhi's Thyagraj Stadium complex, got it closed earlier than usual and asked athletes to leave early so that he could "walk his dog".
"We used to train till 8-8.30 pm under lights earlier. But now, we are asked to leave the ground by 7 pm so that the officer can walk his dog on the ground. Our training and practice routine has been disrupted," the Indian Express quoted a coach as saying.
Khirwar had refuted the allegations and admitted that he took his pet for a walk at the stadium "sometimes" but never disrupted the athletes' practice.
Transferred to Ladakh after row
Back then, Khirwar was the Delhi's Principal Secretary (Revenue). He was transferred to Ladakh from Delhi in May 2022 after the public row. Following the controversy, Delhi's then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had directed all state-run sports facilities in the city to stay open for sportspersons till 10 pm.
