Tamil Nadu: Ashok Upreti to take over as head of forest department

CHENNAI: In a major reshuffle, the state government on Monday announced the shifting of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the head of the forest department (HoD).
Present HoD S Yuvaraj was replaced by Ashok Upreti, an Indian Forest Service officer belonging to the 1988 batch. Hitherto he was working as chairman of the Arasu Rubber Corporation.Yuvaraj was posted a PCCF (Research and Education) in the existing vacancy. Similarly, the state chief wildlife warden Syed Muzammil Abbas has been replaced by Shekhar Kumar Niraj, who was promoted as PCCF and posted as state chief wildlife warden. Another senior official Yogesh Dwivedi, belonging to 1988 batch was also promoted as PCCF and posted as chairman of the Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation (TAFCORN) in the existing vacancy. Both Sudhanshu Gupta and Subrat Mohapatra on deputation have been promoted as PCCFs without prejudice to their central deputation.
Director of Environment Department K V Giridhar was also shifted from the post and he was replaced by P Rajeswari, who was hitherto served as APCCF (Planning and Budget). Giridhar has been posted as APCCF (Information Technology). M Jayanthi, APCCF (IT) has been transferred and posted as Special Secretary (Environment and Climate Change). A Venkatesh, APCCF (Codes and Manuals) was posted as APCCF (Planning and Budgeting). V S Malik has been posted as APCCF (Administration) and he will also hold full additional charge of TN Afforestation Project and project director (Administration and Finance) in the TN Biodiversity and Greening Project.