Sambalpur: Akshay Sunil Departs, Siddheshwar Baliram Takes Over; Know Controversies and Challenges for the New DM
Sambalpur: The outgoing Collector of Sambalpur, Akshay Sunil Agarwal, has been transferred to Nayagarh as the new District Collector. He will be succeeded by Siddheshwar Baliram Bondra, a 2016 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Siddheshwar Baliram, who is currently the Collector of Bhadrak, will be taking over Sambalpur soon. Prior to his assignment in Bhadrak in 2022, Baliram was the Commissioner of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation.
Akshay Sunil, a 2019 IAS officer, previously served as Mayurbhanj’s Additional District Magistrate before becoming Sambalpur Collector. Notably, during his time in Nabarangpur, he established the “Mission Nabarangpur Code,” which provided free coaching to 22,000 students and received widespread acclaim. However, his seven-month stint in Sambalpur did not see any significant accomplishments, largely due to the ongoing election preparations that consumed most of his time.
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The Controversies and the Challenges
During his time in Sambalpur, Akshay Sunil faced some difficult situations. Following the Hanuman Jayanti violence in 2023, the district administration prohibited religious processions, including during Muharram. Although Sunil initially announced that the processions would resume following a preparatory meeting, Police DIG Himanshu Lal later declared that they could not proceed. Sunil and District Parishad member Denarayana Tiwari also had a heated exchange at a recent District Parishad meeting.
Development Projects at a Standstill
During the previous five years of the BJD government, development in Sambalpur had nearly stalled. With the BJP holding both the Lok Sabha and the Vidhan Sabha seats, the BJD government appeared to lose interest in carrying out previously proposed development projects. As a result, the enthusiasm of the former District Collectors dwindled.
New Collector’s Challenges
As the new Collector, Siddheshwar Bilaram will face several pressing challenges. Accelerating development projects in Sambalpur and its three subdivisions will be a top priority. His effectiveness will determine how much progress is made. Key tasks include removing illegal encroachments on government land, ensuring land pattas for government institutions by December, and providing housing for the homeless. Furthermore, the long-delayed Sambalpur Municipal Corporation elections, if held during his tenure, will necessitate meticulous execution, posing yet another significant challenge.
