India: Odisha executes reshuffle of secretaries, DK Singh new Principal Secretary, Steel & Mines

Odisha has decided to change secretaries, appointing Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary to Government, Steel & Mines Department in the run-up of its auction of 11 mineral deposits.

Surendra Kumar who had been given the charge exactly a year ago has been appointed Principal Secretary of the General Administration and Public Grievances Department.

Kumar had overseen a year that had several challenges for the sector. Auctioned mines began operations sometime end of June last year. At the end of the year, while the government has seen huge additional revenue, it also has been kept on its toes.

New lessees, slapped with several notices, have clearly found it difficult to comply with stacking and transport rules. Some of the auctioned mines have been surrendered, some more could be returned. Meanwhile, the Centre too has made more than one amendment including to adjust to post-auction hiccups like allowing PSUs to be allotted mines of failed auctions

The timing of this reshuffle, considering how seriously the state government takes mining, is conspicuous.