By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: Former Union Minister and India’s one of the best Hotelier, Dilip Ray , was on Tuesday morning expressed his deepest condolences to late IAS officer Priyabrata Patnaik, who passed away in Mumbai early in the day.
Sharing a very old photo of former IAS officer Patnaik of year 1982 in his Facebook timeline, in which, the former Union Minister , Ray was seen at his young age, wrote “Deeply pained to learn about the untimely demise of Retired IAS officer #Priyabrata_Patnaik. He was my school mate at Rajkumar College, Raipur and a very dear friend,”
“In the the picture was of the inauguration of MAYFAIR Rourkela (then it was a small restaurant named Tandoor) which was inaugurated by him in 1982,” the former Union Minister recalled.
“Coincidentally, while I commenced my political as well as entrepreneurship journey in the early 1980s he was posted as ADM Rourkela and I must say that as an administrator he left a mark on the people for his proactive and determined approach towards resolving issues concerning the development of the town and will always be remembered as an accessible and efficient bureaucrat,” the Mayfair Group of Hotels, Chairman, wrote an emotional tribute to his batchmate. “I have many fond and nostalgic memories of him and am much pained by his passing away. My deep condolences to the bereaved family. May he Rest In Peace,” Ray added.
Former senior IAS officer of Odisha, Patnaik passed away while undergoing treatment in Mumbai. He was 67.He was not doing well for the past few days. He was suffering from liver cancer and was undergoing treatment at the private hospital since last 40 days.
Patnaik’s cousin brother Sidharth Mohanty informed that he breathed his last at 7.30 am. Besides, efforts are being made to bring his mortal remains to Odisha.
The 1976-batch IAS officer had served in various capacities. Patnaik was also posted as chairman-cum-managing director of Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco). He was also the president of Odisha Judo Association.
