The Government of Odisha appointed Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, a 1986 batch Indian Administrative Service(IAS) officer as the New Chief Secretary of Odisha and he will also hold the post of Chief Development Commissioner. He will succeed Asit Kumar Tripathy who will retire from the service on 31st December 2020.

Presently, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra is serving as the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Planning & Convergence Department, Odisha State Secretariat and holds the additional charge as the working chairman of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri.

About Suresh Chandra Mohapatra:

i.He served as the first collector of the newly formed Bhadrak district of Odisha in 1993 and he also served as the Collector of Kandhamal district.

ii.He served as the Managing Director of Orissa State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (OMFED) for around 6 years.

iii.He has served as the Chief Administrator of Puri temple for 3 years and served as the Principal secretary of energy department and Water resources.

iv.During his term as the Additional Chief Secretary Forest and Environment Department he started schemes like mega lift, deep bore well, check dams and eco-tourism.

Other Appointments:

i.Asit Kumar Tripathy, the outgoing Chief Secretary has been appointed as the Chairman of the Western Odisha Development Council (WODC). He will also serve as the Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on regional development, tourism, agribusiness and industry.

ii.Pradeep Kumar Jena, the additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department and Special Relief Commissioner, has been appointed as the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary to the government of Odisha.