TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The transfer of Nikhil Dessai from Director of Tourism to Managing Director Goa Tourism Development Corporation has raised a lot of eyebrows given that the eloquent Goa cadre officer was the point man for the government’s grandiose plans for Goa tourism.
The government for the first time, after a long time, will have many IAS officers heading departments after having local officers looking after these very same departments.
In the new working, Chief Secretary B Vijayan would be the chief vigilance officer besides looking after departments of home, personnel, administrative reforms, vigilance, science and technology and general administration.
Keshav Chandra has been designated as commissioner and secretary (elections) and comes back as the chief electoral officer.
P Mathew Samuel, becomes the secretary sports and has been given sports and youth affairs, Panchayati Raj, rural development, public grievances and official languages.
P Krishnamurthy has been designated as commissioner and secretary to the Chief Minister and will look after finance, planning and women and child development.
Arvind Bugde, becomes director of information and publicity, relieving Sandip Jacques.
Parimal Rai, becomes principal secretary (PWD) and has town and country planning, industries, trade and commerce, transport and handcrafts, textiles and coir to look after.
R K Srivastava is principal secretary (forests), and looks after forests, environment, urban development, revenue, tourism, NRI affairs and information technology, housing and law, judiciary and legislative affairs.
Prashant Goyal, a recent entrant into the State, has got the charge of the vexed power department, non-conventional energy and labour and employment.
Another newcomer Sharat Chauhan is commissioner and secretary (health) and will look after health, ports, river navigation, craftsmen training, factories and boilers and social welfare departments.
D P Dwivedi remains secretary, education. He will also look after departments of agriculture, archives, archeaology, museum and gazetteer.
Amjad Tak, another new entrant is the new fisheries secretary and will look after departments of fisheries, animal husbandry and veterinary services, legal metrology and protocol.
