In a major bureaucratic reshuffle in the State, Sanjay Kumar Singh was on Wednesday appointed as the Commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) replacing his IAS colleague Prem Chandra Chaudhary at a time when the State capital city is smarting under a serious Covid-19 situation.

Chaudhary (2010 batch) was appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the GA&PG Department.

The General Administration & Public Grievance Department said this in a release. The 1997-batch IAS officer Singh is currently the Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Skill Development & Technical Education Department with additional charge as Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Information & Public Relations (I&PR) Department. He was allowed to remain in additional charges of Vice-Chairman, Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and CEO of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited, earlier held by Prem Chandra Chaudhary, in addition to his existing duties.

Similarly, IAS officer Hemant Sharma (1995 batch), presently the Principal Secretary of Industries Department with additional charge of Chairman, IPICOL, was allowed to remain in additional charge of Principal Secretary of Skill Development & Technical Education Department in addition to his existing duties.

Besides, 1995-batch IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi has been allowed to remain in additional charge of Principal Secretary of the I&PR Department in addition to his existing duties. 

He is currently the Principal Secretary of Revenue & Disaster Management with additional charge of Principal Secretary of Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department.

Besides, Dr Krishan Kumar (IAS 2002 batch), Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Works Department with additional charges of Chief Administrator, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri and Chairman of Puri-Konark Development Authority, was given additional charge of CMD, IDCO in addition to his existing duties.