Pratyaya Amrit to lead Bihar health department now

PATNA: State government on Monday roped in 1991 batch IAS officer Pratyaya Amrit as the principal secretary of Bihar health department. This is the second change made after the outbreak of coronavirus in the state.
While four bureaucrats got new responsibilities on Monday, three got additional charges.
Pratyaya, a trusted officer of chief minister Nitish Kumar was holding the charge of principal secretary, energy department. He will continue with the additional charge of principal secretary, disaster management as well as chairman-cum-managing director of Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited.
While talking to an electronic media, Pratyaya said teamwork will give good results. He also emphasized on the need to increase the number of testing, which he said had been asked by the CM. “My action will speak for you more than work,” he added.
Udai Singh Kumawat, a 1993 batch IAS who was holding the health department’s charge has been sent as advisor to Bihar State Yojana Parishad. He has also been relieved from the additional charge of director general of Bihar Institute of Public Administration and rural Development. Development commissioner Arun Kumar, a 1985 IAS will now hold additional charge of director general of Bihar Institute of Public Administration and rural Development.
This is the second transfer of health department’s top official since Covid-19 pandemic in Bihar. On May 20, state government had transferred, the then principal secretary Sanjay Kumar, a 1990 batch IAS to tourism department and replaced him with Kumawat.
Sources said the government was not happy with the style of functioning of Kumawat as in two months, the cases kept increasing. Even state IMA had on Sunday written a letter to the CM and health minister, asking Kumawat’s removal and instead Sanjay to be brought back.
As per the notification issued by general administration department (GAD) on Monday evening, 1988 batch IAS officer Sudhir Kumar Singh who was holding the charge of additional chief secretary at Labour resources department has been transferred as the chief advisor to Bihar State Yojana Parishad. Sudhir will continue to hold the additional charge of GAD’s vigilance commissioner.
On the other hand 1993 batch IAS officer Mihir Kumar Singh, who after returning from centre was waiting for posting had been made principal secretary of Labour Resources department.
Finance department’s principal secretary S Siddhartha had been given additional charge of the Industries Department. As per the notification issued by GAD on late Monday evening, Industries department secretary, Narmdeshwar Lal, a 1998 batch IAS officer will continue with his responsibilities.
The notification further stated that water resources department secretary Sanjeev Hans will hold additional charge of energy department’s secretary as well as chairman-cum-managing director of Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Limited. He has been relieved from additional charges of vigilance commissioner of GAD as well as secretary, health department.