Mangesh Gondavale, an IAS officer from the 2015 batch, officially took charge as the new collector of Gondia district in eastern Maharashtra on April 6. The handover ceremony was conducted by Bhaiyasaheb Behre, the Officiating Additional Collector and Resident Deputy Collector. Gondavale, who previously held the position of Managing Director at the Maharashtra Agriculture Industrial Development Corporation (MAIDC), succeeds Prajit Nair, who has been transferred to another post. In his address to the media, Gondavale emphasized his commitment to the welfare of Gondia's residents and expressed a strong interest in fostering industrial growth in the district. He noted that Gondia, with its tribal majority and over 51% forest cover, presents significant opportunities for development. Prior to this role, Gondavale served primarily in the Marathwada region and Mumbai, and he holds a PhD in economics with a focus on taxation, alongside extensive experience in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department.