New Odisha Chief Secy Sees Lord Jagannath’s Blessings In His Appointment

Bhubaneswar: Senior IAS officer Pradeep Jena’s planned visit Jagannath Temple in Puri on Sunday to pay obeisance to the Lords coincided with his appointment as the new Chief Secretary of Odisha.

“The posting order was a beautiful coincidence. We dream of taking Odisha to newer heights and seek Lords’ blessing for the same,” he said.

A 1989-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Jena was serving as the Development Commissioner, considered the number two position in the state’s bureaucratic hierarchy.

He is expected to play a crucial role in the expeditious implementation of projects like the transformation of Jagannath Temple in Puri, renovation of other religious places, upgradation of SCB Medical College in Cuttack and implementation of irrigation projects in different parts envisioned by Naveen Patnaik government and scheduled to be completed before the 2024 twin elections.

“There are big plans for Srimandir and Puri town. The project works are also nearing completion. With my experience on the woking, tradition, rituals of the temple and its issues, I will do everything possible on part for Srimandir and the town,” said Jena, who once held the post chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration.

A native of Dhenkanal with masters in geology, Jena’s first posting was in Kalahandi’s Dharmagarh in 1991 where he served as sub collector and was subsequently promoted as project director of DRDA and collector of the district.

The senior IAS officer was lauded by both state and central governments for having efficiently handled the Super Cyclone in 1999 as the collector of Cuttack. He was instrumental in formulating a progressive rehabilitation and resettlement policy for the state while working with UNDP.  As Energy secretary, he handled the crucial energy infrastructure that had crumbled during Super Cyclone.

He also held key positions in water resources, rural development and information technology departments.