Bhubaneswar: Following media questioning the Odisha government’s decision to remove several senior IAS officers from COVID-19 duties, the government today said during this changing situation it was needed to reinstate the bureaucrats in their respective departments.

Odisha government’s Chief Spokesperson Subroto Bagchi said the COVID-19 situation is a long-drawn fight and as per the strategy many officials were assigned the COVID-19 duties. However, the officials were taken back to their respective departments as per the demand of the situations.

“Many officials are reinstated in their department yesterday. Otherwise the administration will face difficulties to function. Secondly if new fighters (officers) are not brought to this battle against the deadly virus, everyone will get tired,” Bagchi added.

Urging people not to trust rumours on social media or fake news, he asked them to have faith on the Chief Secretary’s message issued yesterday praising the dedication and sincerity of officials involved in the COVID-19 duties.

“The rumours or fake news might create trouble for COVID-19 warriors ranging from panchayats to district administration and police to secretariat employees and demoralize them,” he added.

Worth mentioning, the media raised questions about the withdrawal of senior officials from COVID-19 duties and attributed the alleged involvement of some bureaucrats in corruption in PPE and COVID-19 testing kits procurement as the reason behind the government move.