Atri Bhattacharya is new state Home Secy

Atri Bhattacharya, an IAS officer of 1989 batch, has become the state's Home Secretary.

Bhattacharya, who was the Principal Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs department, has been made the Home Secretary of the Home and Hill Affairs department. Apart from continuing with his charge of Principal Secretary of the Tourism department, he has been given the additional charge of the Parliamentary Affairs department as well.

The reshuffle order of seven IAS officers including that of Bhattacharya came on Friday.

This comes on a day when Malay De, who was replaced by Bhattacharya, has taken over as the state's Chief Secretary from Basudeb Banerjee. After taking over the charge, De said: "I have nothing much to say. We are government employees and will work with responsibility." Before leaving, Banerjee too thanked his colleagues for their cooperation that helped him to carry out his work as the Chief Secretary of the state.

Before becoming the Principal Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs department, Bhattacharya was on Central deputation as the jute commissioner. He was also the managing director of WBIDC.

Apart from Bhattacharya, six other IAS officers of the Bengal cadre have been given new or additional responsibilities.

The 1990 batch IAS officer, Vivek Kumar, who was the Principal Secretary of Higher Education department, has been given the charge of Principal Secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs department in place of Bhattacharya.

Kumar has been replaced by Dr R S Shukla. Dr Shukla, an IAS of 1986 batch was the Principal Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare department and now, he has become the Principal Secretary of the Higher Education department and Anil Verma has replaced him as Health Secretary.

The 1989 batch IAS officer Verma also had the additional charge of the Consumer Affairs department. Neelam Meena, a 1998 batch officer, has been made the Consumer Affairs Secretary.

Senior IAS officer of 1986 batch, Saurabh Das, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Panchayat and Rural Development department, has been given additional charge of the Self Help Group and Self Employment Department.

Sanghamitra Ghosh has been given the additional charge as Vice Chairman of the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission.