By P.T. Bopanna
Charulata Somal (in picture), IAS, the first IAS officer to have gone on an expedition to Antarctica, on Saturday took over as the new deputy commissioner of Kodagu (Coorg) district.
Interestingly, two previous DCs of Kodagu were also women, including the outgoing DC Annies Joy and Sreevidya P.I. who preceded her. In early 1980s, Veena Sriramrao had worked as Kodagu DC.
Somal, a 2012-batch IAS officer from the Karnataka cadre, had served as CEO of Kodagu zilla panchayat way back in 2016. She is an economic honours graduate from St. Stephen’s College of Delhi University.
She is the first IAS officer to have gone on an expedition to Antarctica. In March 2016, she was part of the International Antarctic Expedition led by Robert Swan for ‘A Leadership on the Edge Program to the Last Wilderness on Earth’
A committed environmentalist, Somal, started E-base in Kodagu after her return from Antarctica to promote environmental education.
Somal has previously held several posts, including as commissioner, Shimoga city corporation and was also attached to the chief minister’s office.
Hope with a eco-sensitive DC in place, our pristine Coorg, ravaged by the vagaries of the weather, will see better planning and healing, going forward and uncalled for developments around Raja Seat and Railway Projects, are put on hold or disbanded.
welcome …..plz give special efforts to save forest and animals mam…. Wish u all the very best
Welcome Madam, … I am sure we could find a solution to keep the River Cauvery clean and remedy the unscientific manner the garbage is managed in Coorg, especially in Madikeri town stone hill and tourist spots …to ensure every citizen is accountable to keep Coorg clean and it’s not too late …still we could make Coorg a model district. Thanks
Stop tourist entry into agri based kodagu. implement green tax on visitors to district.
Good welcome Madam ..
Our forest in and out coorg are bare without good food trees hence negligence in misusing forest development funds. number of animals increased but essential water and food dried up. many human lives are lost due to conflict between animals.
A warm welcome mam 🙂
It is indeed a moment of happiness for us to have someone close to nature in such a position. Welcome madam🙏
Save Kodagu and uphold Democracy