Sagar's successor, Vinita, a 1968 batch officer, has just completed a UN assignment in Kathmandu and has been awaiting a posting. Since as a rule, officers going back from deputation are not indicated their next assignment, the official communication about Sagar, a UT cadre officer, does not give details of his next assignment and he has just been asked to report back to Delhi.

Sagar announced his transfer at the lecture on copyright that he delivered at the Chandigarh College of Architecture this evening. The lecture turned out to be a farewell for him, complete with a `Token of Appreciation' presented by the regional chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects.

Initially, there was disbelief at this sudden development, but Sagar kept his cool as he told Newsline: ``Whenever you leave a particular post, there is bound to be something left incomplete, for you are working on so many things. When you leave, many things remain to be done.''

Sagar had taken up the rehabilitation of slum-dwellers without shifting them by providing housing and basic facilities. He had also started the Chandigarh Regional Plan as a follow-up to the Conference of Architects that he initiated in January this year.

Talking about his contribution to the city, Sagar said: ``I tried to create an awareness about the architecture and heritage of Chandigarh and to look into the consciousness of future planning. It is a nice city to live in but one that is dogged by problems. We initiated the process of looking into them. I could help in improving investment in urban infrastructure and also in the rural areas by augmenting water supply and carrying out a sanitation drive.''

But when asked if he saw any compulsions in his sudden transfer, Sagar said: ``I have no comments on that. It is the usual procedure for a bureaucrat to get transferred. We come and go and nobody reads much into it.

Summing up his term in Chandigarh, Sagar said: ``It was one of the nicest places I have ever worked in. I can carry only happy memories from here as I learnt a great deal from Chandigarh.'' Sagar came to the city in February 1997 from his previous posting as Principal Secretary, Urban Development, in the Delhi government.

After Sagar announced his transfer, CCA Principal Col. I.J.S. Bakshi was heard saying: ``It is unfair on the part of the government of India to transfer him when he is in the middle of so many projects. Such a person who is responsive to the needs of the city, both functional and architectural, should be allowed to continue at least till the projects are completed.''

Meanwhile, news about more senior level changes was also doing the rounds but it was not confirmed by the officials of the UT administration.