Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government today assigned additional charge of crucial Department of Panchyati Raj and Drinking Water to Top Mandarin Sushil Kumar Lohani.
1995 Batch IAS Mr.Lohani is now serving as Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Odisha for last three long years.
Mr.Lohani was also handling additional charge of Department of Excise and Commissioner Commercial Tax (CCT) for last three years.
With 1993 Batch IAS Ashok Kumar Meena leaving to join Government of India assignment, CMD Food Corporation of India (FCI), State Government did these appointments on 26 August.
Mr.Meena was serving in Department of Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water for more than one year and has been successfully handling the crucial assignment.
Now Mr.Lohani, who has lot of experience in Panchayati Raj sector will be handling this assignment efficiently.
His experience as Project Director District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Bhadrakh, district Collector of three districts, Sambalpur, Balangir and Keonjhar and above all Director Special Projects Odisha will go a long way to help out the State, opine senior officials.
Mr.Lohani, having experience in handling affairs in Government of India, in the Ministry of Fertilizer, Ministry of Labor and in the Ministry of Power will come as a helping hand in dealing with Government of India.
While the State Government is having smooth relationship with the Union Government, however over the issue of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) there is a stalemate like situation with Union Minister Rural Development is having some reservations in helping out the State, though Odisha is one of the best performing states in this sector.
However, a quiet performing Mandarin, Mr.Lohani will be able to sort out the issue, which an honest Mandarin, Mr.Meena has been able to convince the Top Brass of Government of India that Odisha Government will not tolerate ‘Corruption’ and taking the errant officers to task.
1993 Batch IAS Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, who is at present serving as Principal Secretary Steel & Mines, has been assigned additional charge of Department of Excise.
Mr.Singh will continue as Chairman OMC, OMECL and IDCOL with additional charge.
1997 Batch IAS Sanjay Kumar Singh, at present Principal Secretary Rural Development and Information & Public Relations is assigned additional charge of Commissioner Commercial Tax (CCT).
Mr.Singh will continue as VC BDA and MD Smart City Limited with additional charge.