Odisha IAS Officer Transferred After RTI Reveals Rs 70 Lakh Splurge On Residence Renovation Works In Six Months

Rashmita Panda, District Collector of Sundargarh has been transferred by the Odisha government, reports The Hindu. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer is accused of spending Rs 70 lakh in six months for the renovation of her official residential quarters in Rourkela.

The information came to light in response to requests filed by RTI activists that the officer renovated her official residence by spending Rs 68.57 lakh. Pradip Pradhan, convenor of the Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhijan, alleged that the project cost of each head of expenditure was deliberately kept below Rs 5 lakh to avoid the tender process and no tenders were called for the renovation.

The estimated expenditure details show that Rs 4.04 lakh was spent on mosquito nets; Rs 4.45 lakh on plastic emulsion painting work; Rs 10 lakh on external and internal electrification; Rs 4.44 lakh on construction of drains and a portico.

Construction of a guard room, raising the height of the boundary wall, construction of an additional dining room, and fixing of aluminium sliding windows all were estimated at Rs 4 lakh each.

Panda will now work as Director of Employment-cum-Chief Executive Officer of the Odisha Skill Development Authority. The 2010 batch IAS officer at the the time held posts of Vice-Chairperson of the Rourkela Development Authority, Commissioner of the Rourkela Municipal Corporation and CEO of the Rourkela Smart City Authority.