Why Kulange was shunted from Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation top post?   

The incumbent Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner, Vijay Amruta Kulange has been replaced by 2005 batch IAS Rajesh Pravakar Patil. The General Administration Department of the Odisha Government issued a circular in this regard on Saturday. 

While Kulange’s separation has raised many eyebrows, an announcement made by him is believed to have proved costly for the bureaucrat. It is believed so because the government’s decision came just a day after he made the announcement. 

On Friday (February 23), while briefing journalists, he had said the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and corporators would get honorarium of Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000, and Rs 10,000 respectively per corporation meeting. He also informed that the decision was taken at the 21st general council meeting. 

Moments later, the Deputy Mayor clarified that no decision had been taken to increase the remuneration of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and corporators. "There was a factual error in the BMC’s statement. A proposal to that effect has been submitted to the government. Once approved, it will be implemented," he said. 

A day later, the circular of the General Administration Department came, informing about the appointment of Rajesh Pravakar Patil as the next Commissioner of the BMC. 

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“Rajesh Pravakar Patil is hereby posted as Commissioner Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. Patil is allowed to remain in additional charge of Commissioner cum Secretary to Government, Co-operation Department and Special Secretary Housing & Urban Development Department, Bhubaneswar,” read the official circular.

“Detail posting of Sri Vijay Amrut Kulange, IAS, RR-2013, Commissioner Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, who has been allowed to proceed on leave for one month as per his request, will be made upon his return from leave,” the circular stated.