Sanjay new Bhubaneswar civic physique chief, Prem proven the door

By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR:  The State authorities on Wednesday appointed Sanjay Kumar Singh as Municipal Commissioner of Bhubaneswar after shunting out the incumbent Prem Chandra Chaudhary. The transfer coming as a shock in the midst of the unwavering Covid second wave within the Capital metropolis has led to a number of speculations.

Though the State authorities didn’t elaborate why Chaudhary was shifted, it’s mentioned to be a results of incompetent dealing with of the Covid-19 scenario by the officer. The administrative circles have been abuzz that gross mismanagement of the Covid scenario in Bhubaneswar, particularly the vaccination drive which has been in a multitude, might have prompted Chaudhary’s ouster.

His dealing with of the primary wave of Covid final 12 months had additionally are available in for criticism and the raging second wave solely uncovered the poor state of affairs in metropolis. Besides that BMC has been discovered struggling, sources additionally level out that there may very well be a extra compelling motive for the State authorities to hold out the reshuffle. No senior official of the General Administration, nonetheless, was out there for remark.

Sources maintained that two extra officers could be posted within the BMC to handle the scenario which is why an officer of Singh’s seniority has been posted. A 1997 batch IAS officer, Singh may even maintain further cost as Vice-Chairman of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA). He was serving as Secretary, I and PR Department, Skill Development and Technical Education aside from CMD of Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation. 

Chaudhary, a 2010 batch officer, has been posted as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in General Administration and Public Grievance division. The authorities additionally effected a minor senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle with three officers assigned further costs. As per a notification issued by the General Administration division, 1995 batch officer Bishnupada Sethi, Principal Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management with further cost of Principal Secretary, Odia Language, Literature and Culture division will stay in further cost of Principal Secretary, I&PR along with his personal duties.

The 2002 batch IAS officer Krishan Kumar, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Works division with further cost of Chief Administrator, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri and Chairman, Puri Konark Development Authority (PKDA) can be in further cost of CMD, IDCO.Similarly, Hemant Sharma, Secretary in Industries division with further cost of Chairman, IPICOL could have further cost of Skill Development and Technical Education division.