Odisha: Govt Gives Political Leaders Go-By, Appoints Ganjam Collector As BeDA Chairman

Berhampur: In a major disappointment to aspirants among political leaders, the Odisha government has appointed Ganjam district collector as chairman of Berhampur Development Authority (BeDA).

As per an official order issued by Housing and Urban Development department on Friday, Ganjam collector Dibyajyoti Parida will hold the BeDA chairman post.

The BeDA chairman post had been lying vacant for 3 years after the term of chairman and senior BJD leader Subas Maharana completed in 2019. He held the post for 5 years from 2014.

In the absence of chairman, the commissioners of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) have been appointed as vice-chairman of BeDA and managing its affairs virtually as head of the Authority. BeMC commissioner Chakraborty Singh Rathor was first appointed as BeDA vice-chairman. He was succeeded by Siddheswar Balaram Bondar and the present BeMC commissioner J Sonal.

The government had announced appointment to the posts of heads of different state corporations, development authorities, advisers and members on October 9. Maharan was appointed as chairman of Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation.

While the name of Ganjam Regional Trust chairman was also declared, nobody was appointed as BeDA chairman, keeping the hope of local leaders alive for the post. But the appointment of district collector to the prestigious post has apparently come as a setback for them.