Rajasthan govt transfers 37 IAS officers ahead of budget

JAIPUR: The state government transferred 37 IAS officers in a major bureaucratic reshuffle on Sunday, the move coming days before the budget.
Ajitabh Sharma, who was principal secretary to the chief minister, was relieved from the responsibility at the CMO and given charge of energy and discoms at a time when the power utilities are making huge losses.
He will also hold additional charge as chairman of Rajasthan Energy Development Corporation Ltd and Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited.
Recently, the government had approved an average 11% hike in power tariffs across sectors, excluding small and medium industry. The hike was highest for the agriculture sector at 18% followed by domestic consumers.
Kunji Lal Meena, who was in-charge of energy department and discoms, has been shifted to mines and petroleum department as principal secretary. The post was earlier held by Dinesh Kumar, who has now been appointed chairman and MD of Rajasthan State Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Ltd.
Senior IAS officer Sudhansh Pant, who was on central deputation, has been brought back as principal secretary, forest and environment department.
Naveen Jain has been made RSRTC managing director. He has been replaced by Neeraj Kumar Pawan as secretary of labour and employment department.