Udupi: The CEO of Udupi Zilla panchayat, Ms. Priyanka Mary Francis has been appointed as the new deputy commissioner for Udupi district.
T.Venkatesh to hand over the charge to her. The transfer order of the incumbent Deputy Commissioner Mr. T Venkatesh was issued on 21st febraury along with transfer orders of 10 more IAS officers. T Venkatesh, now to join the post of a managing director of a sugar mill (Mysore Sugar Company ltd).
About Priyanka Francis, she is an IAS officer from the 2009 batch and she had taken over the post of the CEO of Udupi Zilla panchayat in November 2015. According to the sources, Priyanka is the fifth person to take the post of DC in Udupi after the Congress government led by Siddaramiah has come to power in 2013.
Dr. Muddu Mohan was the first person to take this post after the government came to power. He was appointed as the DC and took over the charge from M T Raju in 2014. He was then transferred the same year by surprise. Pattan Shetty who took charge from M T Raju was also transferred within two months. Later while R Vishal, had taken over the post until he was also transferred in June 2016.
T Venkatesh was appointed in July 2016. His transfer is not without controversy. He said that he may have been transferred because of his strict handling of illegal transportation of sand. He also added saying that they are called with inefficient, if they don’t take any action and transferred if they do so.
Priyanka Francis to continue working as a CEO of Udupi Zilla panchayat until a new CEO is appointed to take over. Hence, she says her main priority will be to provide drinking water facilities to villages and habitations where water is scarce. She also said that she would give importance to the sand extraction and issues of toll collection.
Priyanka to meet and consult T Venkatesh on Wednesday to decide the date of taking charge.