Odisha Govt Appoints Rajesh Patil As BMC Commissioner, Kulange Removed After Goof Up

Bhubaneswar: Senior IAS officer Rajesh Prabhakar Patil has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).

According to a circular issued by the General Administration Department of the Odisha government, the 2005-batch IAS officer Patil replaces Vijay Amruta Kulange.

Patil is currently serving as the Commissioner cum Secretary to government, Co-operation Department. He has the additional charge of Special Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department.

“Rajesh Pravakar Patil is hereby posted as Commissioner Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. Patil is allowed to remain in additional charge of Commissioner cum Secretary to Government, Co-operation Department and Special Secretary Housing & Urban Development Department, Bhubaneswar,” the official circular said.

According to reports, Kulange has seemingly been removed from the post after his goof up  regarding the resolution of the BMC related to remuneration of corporators, Deputy Mayor and Mayor on Friday.

He had reportedly told the media that that a proposal for raising the allowance of the corporators, mayor and deputy mayor for attending each meeting to Rs 10,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively has been passed in the council meeting. The sitting allowance of corporators at present is Rs 700.

While it was a proposal of the BMC regarding remuneration, which is subject to the approval by the government, the Commissioner’s reported statement had created a row. The statement was later withdrawn by the BMC, which issued a clarification saying that it had ‘factual errors’ and was only a proposal subject to approval by the government.

Kulange, 2013-batch IAS officer, proceeded on monthlong leave on Saturday. His posting details will be confirmed after he returns from the leave, sources said.