Karwar: Eshwar Kumar Kandu, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Uttara Kannada Zilla Panchayat, was given a warm farewell on Monday, where officials praised his contributions to the district’s development during his two-and-a-half-year tenure.

Speaking at the farewell and welcome function organized by the Zilla Panchayat, Kandu credited the collective efforts of officers and staff for the district's achievements. “It was due to the cooperation and hard work of all officials and staff that several development projects could be implemented successfully,” he said.

He highlighted key initiatives undertaken during his tenure, including the successful launch of multi-village drinking water projects despite administrative challenges, and praised the support received from the Forest Department in a district where 80% of the land is forested.

Kandu also noted that the district received a state-level award under the SVEEP program during the general elections, crediting the teamwork of all departments. He lauded the Gram Panchayat staff for achieving top ranks in state tax collection and acknowledged the district's educational improvement, particularly in SSLC exam results.

Deputy Commissioner K. Lakshmi Priya commended Kandu’s leadership, calling his work an inspiration. “Achieving state-level awards with limited staff is no small feat. His dedication brought recognition to the district, including the national-level SKOCH Award for an innovative women-led tourism initiative,” she said.

Newly appointed CEO Dr. Dileesh Sashi said, “Everyone I spoke to mentioned how Mr. Kandu laid a strong foundation. I seek the same cooperation from all stakeholders to continue this journey of holistic development.”

The event was attended by probationary IAS officer Zhupishan Haque, Chief Accounts Officer Anandsa Habib, Planning Officer Somashekhar Mesta, Project Director Kareem Asadi, and several senior officials.