18 IAS officers transferred

Kolkata: The state on Tuesday transferred and appointed 18 IAS officers to key positions in various departments, marking the first significant administrative reshuffle of secretary-level officers since the BJP formed the govt on May 9. The reshuffle occurred in food and supplies, transport, women and child development, land and land reforms, labour, irrigation, PHE and information and cultural affairs among other departments.

Nandini Chakravorty, who was the principal coordinator of development work in CMO, was made the additional chief secretary, science and technology and biotechnology department, with an additional charge of additional chief secretary, housing department. Jagdish Prasad Meena, former secretary of the women and child development and social welfare department, was made the secretary of the food and supplies department. Ravi Inder Singh, previously principal secretary of the self-help group and self-employment department, has been appointed as the transport department principal secretary.

Saumitra Mohan will continue as the secretary to the governor, but with an additional charge as secretary of the information and cultural affairs department. Surendra Gupta, former divisional commissioner of the presidency division, was appointed as the principal secretary of the land and land reforms and refugee relief and rehabilitation departments.

Rajeev Kumar has been made the technical education, training and skill development department principal secretary, while Moumita Godara Basu takes over as the secretary of the women and child development and social welfare department. Among other changes, Rachna Bhagat has been made the secretary of the labour department, Mukta Arya the secretary of the Sundarbans affairs department and Rajesh Kumar Sinha the principal secretary of the irrigation and waterways department.

The reshuffle also sees Randhir Kumar taking charge as the secretary of PHE department, with additional responsibility in the finance department and Raju Mishra becoming the new excise commissioner.

Rajesh Pandey, who was additional chief secretary, MSME and textiles department, was posted the additional chief secretary, youth services and sports department. R Vimala was appointed as the north Bengal development department secretary.

Parwez Ahmad Siddiqui, who was the food and supplies department principal secretary, was made the principal secretary, state gazetteers. Anoop Kumar Agarwal is now the additional chief secretary, department of personnel and administrative reforms and MSME and textiles department. Bengal CEO Neelam Meena will take the additional charge of principal secretary, environment department.

Principal resident commissioner Dushyant Nariala will take the additional charge of the director general, NSATI, and chairman, SNTCSSC.