THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
APRIL 1, 2026
In a significant move
to reinforce decentralised governance and accelerate district-level
development, the Odisha government has designated ministers and Members of the
Legislative Assembly (MLAs) as chairpersons of District Planning Committees
(DPCs) in all 30 districts of the state. The initiative is aimed at ensuring
more focused planning, efficient execution of welfare schemes, and stronger
coordination between state policies and local priorities.
The appointments
provide each district with a clearly accountable leadership structure
responsible for guiding development strategies, monitoring programme
implementation, and promoting inclusive growth. The decision reflects the
government’s continued emphasis on empowering grassroots institutions and
enhancing administrative responsiveness at the local level.
Under the new
arrangements, Ashok Mohanty will oversee planning in Angul, while Laxman Bag
has been entrusted with responsibilities in Balangir. Padmalochan Panda will
head Balasore and Ashwini Kumar Sarangi will guide development initiatives in
Bargarh. Sitanshu Sekhar Mohapatra takes charge of Bhadrak, Kanhai Charan Dang
leads Boudh, and Chhabi Mallick will supervise planning efforts in Cuttack.
Revenue and Disaster
Management Minister Suresh Pujari has been assigned Deogarh, while Simarani
Nayak will steer planning in Dhenkanal. Works, Excise and Law Minister
Prithviraj Harichandan will chair Gajapati, and Purna Chandra Sethy will
oversee Ganjam. Amarendra Das takes responsibility for Jagatsinghpur, while
Akash Dashnayak will guide development in Jajpur. Tankadhar Tripathy will lead
Jharsuguda and Sudhir Ranjan Pattjoshi will head Kalahandi.
Uma Charan Mallick
will oversee Kandhamal, Dr Durga Prasan Nayak has been appointed for
Kendrapara, and Fakir Mohan Naik will chair Keonjhar. Prasanta Kumar Jagadev
takes charge of Khordha, while Raghuram Machha will head Koraput. Narsinga
Madkami will oversee planning in Malkangiri, Bhaskar Madhei in Mayurbhanj, and
Gouri Shankar Majhi in Nabarangpur. Dusmanta Kumar Swain has been appointed for
Nayagarh, Jay Dholkia for Nuapada, and Om Prakash Mishra for Puri.
ST & SC Development and Education Minister Nityananda Gond will chair Rayagada, while Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra will lead Sambalpur. Raghunath Jagadala will oversee Subarnapur and Durga Charan Tanti has been assigned Sundargarh.
The government believes that empowering district-level leadership through the DPC framework will improve planning efficiency, ensure better alignment of welfare initiatives with local needs, and strengthen participatory governance across Odisha.
