Vineel Krishna Back In CMO To Fight COVID

Bhubaneswar: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to strengthen its grip on Odisha, the state government on Thursday brought senior IAS officer Vineel Krishna back to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to manage the situation.

The 2005-bath IAS officer, who had come to limelight after being kidnapped by Maoists when he was Collector of Malkangiri district in 2012, has been given additional charge of OSD to CMO (COVID Management). He will continue to discharge his responsibilities as Managing Director of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Director of Sports and Youth Services and Managing Director of Odisha Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (OMECL).

In March, shortly after Odisha went for a lockdown to battle the coronavirus, Krishna had become part of CMO, popularly referred to as the Third Floor, as OSD to Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Retired IAS officer R Balakrishnan is serving as the Chief Advisor to CM.

However, Krishna along with several other senior officers were relieved of their COVID management responsibilities in May.

Krishna’s return assumes significance as he is perceived to be a trusted officer of Secretary to CM (5T) V Karthikeyan Pandian, who is believed to be calling the shots in the government. Krishna’s posting in CMO comes on the heels of the CM announcing that COVID management had come under Mo Sarkar, of which 5T forms the policy framework.

It also follows vacancies created in the CMO because of retired bureaucrat Dilip Mohanty, who was Special Secretary to CM, getting relieved of his duties on July 7 and Pradipta Mohapatra, who was Additional Secretary to CM, being posted at the CM’s residence, Naveen Niwas, as OSD upon superannuation.

The government further appointed Lala Manoj Kumar Ray, OAS (S), Joint Secretary, Water Resources, as Joint Secretary in the office of the Chief Minister.

Besides, Subhranshu Mishra, OAS (SB) and Sub-Collector, Cuttack, has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the office of the Chief Minister while Pratap Kumar Beura, OAS (SB), Additional Land Officer, General Administration and Public Grievance (GA&PG) has been posted as Sub-Collector, Cuttack.