Bhubaneswar: Pradeep Jena has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Odisha on Sunday. Jena will succeed Suresh Chandra Mahaptra who is due to retire on February 28. Jena will take charge on March 1.
A 1989-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, Jena has been serving as DC-cum-ASC, Special Relief Commissioner and MD, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA).
Anu Garg will replace Jena as Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary and Secretary, Planning and Convergence. She will continue as Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources, Government of Odisha.
Jena has held the post of chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, and also served as Secretary in Rural Development, Water Resources, IT and Energy departments.
Incumbent Suresh Chandra Mahapatra will retire from service on February 28. A 1986-batch IAS officer, he has been serving as Chief Secretary since December 2020. Though he was scheduled to retire on February 28, 2022, he got two extensions for six months beyond his normal date of superannuation.
The state government has appointed Anu Garg, a 1991 batch Odisha cadre IAS officer, as new Development Commissioner, and will also retain the post of Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources.