BHUBANESWAR: A day after his ‘controversial’ statement on hike in allowance of corporators that prompted the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to issue a clarification, municipal commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange on Saturday proceeded on a month-long leave. The state government has appointed Cooperation secretary Rajesh Pravakar Patil as the new commissioner of BMC.
Patil, a 2005-batch IAS officer, will continue to remain in additional charge of Cooperation secretary and Housing and Urban development (H&UD) special secretary, the General Administration (GA) department notified in its order. The GA circular stated that Kulange has been allowed to go on leave for a month as per his request and his posting will be made after he returns.
Kulange on Friday had reportedly told the media 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.
The civic body, however, issued a clarification immediately stating the commissioner’s statement on remuneration of corporators, deputy mayor and mayor had ‘factual errors’ and it was only a proposal subject to approval by the government.
This apart, Kulange’s reference to land record certificates (LRC), distributed to eligible beneficiaries under Jaga Mission as ‘patta’ had led BJP corporators to stage strong protest on the floor disrupting the corporation meeting on Friday.
Improved amenities priority for new BMC chief
New commissioner Rajesh Pravakar Patil on Saturday said improved urban amenities for citizens and solid waste management in the state capital will be his priority. Patil, who assumed the charge on the day, told The New Indian Express, “My focus will be on improving services in the areas of sanitation, drinking water, traffic and other urban amenities.” Patil said he will focus on improving civic services delivered to citizens in the state capital