Babus reshuffled,CM’s principal secy shifted to PWD

The state government shifted 1979-batch IAS officer Ravindra Singh,the CM’s Principal Secretary,to the post of Principal Secretary,Public Works Department on Wednesday.

The government also asked Singh to hold the additional charge of Chief Executive Officer,UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority,Lucknow. The IAS officer,Chandra Bhanu,has been posted as Secretary to the CM in the Chief Minister’s Office. He will hold the additional charge of Commissioner,Trade Taxes. The Principal Secretary,PWD,Kapil Deo,will join as the new Principal Secretary of Agriculture,Agriculture Education and Research Department. KK Sinha,who held the post,will be the Principal Secretary,General Administration department.

Durga Shankar Mishra,Principal Secretary to the CM,has been asked to handle the additional charges of Principal Secretary,Civil Aviation and Director,Civil Aviation.

Sources in the CMO said Principal Secretary-rank officer Ravindra Singh was not “comfortable” in the CMO after the elevation of the Principal Secretary-rank officer Netram to the post of Additional Cabinet Secretary. “Although both officers belong to the 1979 batch,Singh is senior,” an official said. Singh,on his part,refused to comment.

On February 13,Chief Minister Mayawati had effected reshuffle in the CMO and created the post of Additional Cabinet Secretary (ACS). The CMO has now two ACS — Vijay Shankar Pandey and Netram.