Kolkata, 03 April (H.S.): Amid the ongoing election atmosphere in West Bengal, a major administrative reshuffle has been carried out at the state secretariat, Nabanna, with responsibilities of several senior bureaucrats being reassigned. The Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department issued a notification in this regard on Friday.

The notification was signed by Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Pandey on the directions of the Governor. According to administrative sources, the reshuffle has been undertaken purely on administrative grounds to ensure faster governance and better coordination among departments.

As per the order, several senior officers have been given charge of new departments, while some have been entrusted with additional responsibilities along with their existing portfolios.

Three important divisions have also got new Divisional Commissioners. Avanindra Singh, a 2002-batch officer, has been appointed Divisional Commissioner of the Burdwan Division. He was earlier serving as Secretary of the Labour Department. Anup Kumar Agarwal, a 1993-batch officer, has been appointed Divisional Commissioner of the Jalpaiguri Division. He was previously serving as Additional Chief Secretary of the Technical Education Department. Similarly, Surendra Gupta, a 1997-batch officer, has been appointed Divisional Commissioner of the Presidency Division.

Administrative sources said these experienced officers have been given divisional responsibilities to strengthen governance and improve administrative efficiency at the district level.

Significant changes have also been made in the health sector. Narayan Swaroop Nigam, Principal Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, has been given additional charge of the Public Health Engineering Department. The 1998-batch officer will handle the new responsibility alongside his current role. The post had fallen vacant following the transfer of Surendra Gupta.

In the education sector, 1996-batch officer Vinod Kumar has been given additional charge of the Technical Education, Training and Skill Development Department along with School Education, Higher Education and Library Services.

Additionally, 1995-batch officer Khalil Ahmed, currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary of the Fire and Emergency Services Department, has been given additional charge of the Urban Development Department.

Changes have also been made in the agriculture sector. Omkar Singh Meena, Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Department, has been given additional charge of the Food Processing and Horticulture Department. Soumitra Mohan, Secretary of the Transport Department, has been assigned additional charge of the Labour Department.

The government notification stated that the reshuffle was carried out in the public interest and to improve administrative efficiency. Officials at Nabanna described it as a routine administrative exercise but expressed hope that it would further improve coordination and speed of work among departments. The officers concerned have been directed to assume their new responsibilities with immediate effect.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh