Sambalpur: SMC Commissioner is changing, but the pictures of the city are not changing

Sambalpur: Officers of Sambalpur Metropolitan Corporation are changing but the picture of Sambalpur Metropolitan Municipality is not changing. The conditions of Sambalpur, Burla, and Hirakud urban areas are almost as they were before the formation of Sambalpur Metropolitan Corporation (SMC). The condition of the 12 panchayats of the metropolitan corporation has now become deplorable. The condition of roads and canals is as it was. The sanitation system is a disaster. As much as the government is providing funds, it cannot be spent. Many projects remain unfinished for a long time even after being tendered.

Sambalpur Metropolitan Corporation (SMC) has passed 9 years. During this 9-year period, there have been 15 changes in the position of commissioner. However, the number of officers in charge of the commission is 9, and 4 officers have worked in 2 phases. Some of the officers have been redeployed after promotion while some other officers have come in 2 phases and taken up this responsibility. However, Sambalpur Additional District Collector Umakanta Raj has found an exception. When he was transferred as Metropolitan Corporation Commissioner, his transfer order was canceled due to his disinterest and as the new commissioner, Vedabhushan has taken over from Pradeep Sahu yesterday.

The state government declared Sambalpur as a metropolitan corporation in September 2013, but it became legally operational on 2 December 2014. Sudshanshu Bhoi joined as its first commissioner. He served till 23 December 2014. From 24 December 2014 to 1 April 2016, senior OA officer Trilochan Majhi was in charge of the commission. After Mr. Majhi, Bimalendu Roy served in two stints from 1 April 2016 to 20 November 2018. After that again Sudshanshu Bhoi and Janranjan Bhanjdeo were in charge of this responsibility for some time. Trilochan Majhi was also Commissioner from 10th March 2019 to 19th September 2019 in 2 phases. However, the first IAS Commissioner of SMC, Lingaraj Panda joined on 19 September 2019 and held the post for only 5 months.

After this, the first woman commissioner took charge of Joshwari Das. He served from 2 March 2020 to 13 August 2020. Anirudh Padhan was the commissioner for two terms after Dzeeshwari till 21 October 2021. Mr. Padhan was also the Executive Officer of Sambalpur Municipal Council. Pradeep Sahu, who took over from Mr. Padhan, remained in the post till 12 July. The people of Sambalpur have a lot of hope in Vedbushwan, a young officer of the Indian Administrative Service. It seems that the development work here is flourishing under his supervision or the status quo is going on as before.