Dhalbhum SDO Alok Kumar, who had earned popularity for keeping Jamshedpur free of encroachment during his brief stint, was replaced on Tuesday.

An IAS officer of 2013 batch, Suraj Kumar (28), took charge as the new SDO.

Alok Kumar, shifted within seven months despite the term in office being three years, is learnt to have been promoted as an under-secretary in the department of higher education.

The incumbent SDO on Tueday pledged to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and keep the steel city free from squatters. "Ensuring that marketplaces in prime areas such as Sakchi, Bistupur and Golmuri are not illegally occupied by anyone will be my first priority," Suraj Kumar said.

Before assuming office, the new SDO took tips from Alok Kumar on how to conduct anti-encroachment drives at marketplaces. "I have learnt how Sakchi marketplace was cleared of over 300 vendors. It was a change that offered shoppers great convenience," he said, adding that a similar problem of unauthorised shops persisted at Bistupur market and he would look into the matter.

Alok Kumar had taken up the job to remove unauthorised vendors from Bistupur market. But, the drive remained incomplete owing to legal hurdles. Suraj Kumar has promised to finish the job his predecessor left half-done.

The new SDO, who hails from Gamharia, in adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district, studied at Sakchi-based Karim City College.

After taking charge from Alok Kumar on Tuesday, Suraj Kumar met his juniors at Circuit House and took stock of the law and order situation, public transport and public distribution system.