Rajesh Verma new prinicpal secretary to Naveen Patnaik

BHUBANESWAR (INDIA): Senior bureaucrat Rajesh Verma was today appointed as principal secretary to the chief minister in a minor reshuffle effected by Odisha government.nn”I will work hard to give best services to the people, of Odisha” Sharma, a 1987 batch IAS officer, told reporters.nnVerma replaced U N Behera who has been appointed as the chairman of Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC). Verma was officiating as the principal secretary to the energy department.nnHemant Sharma, a 1995 batch IAS officer and CMD of Grid Corporation of Odisha and Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (OPTCL), was given additional charge of energy, a notification issued by General Administration Department said.nnBehera took oath of office of new chairman of Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) by Governor SC Jamir at the Raj Bhavan.nnBehera said electricity is is one of the major drivers of development. “As chairman of OERC, my priority would be the overall development of the electricity sector in the state. I will try to create the environment in which the power generating companies, power transmission companies, distribution companies would function well,” Behera said.nnBehera also said that he would work to protect interest of the consumers.nnBehera, a 1983 batch IAS officer, was additional chief secretary to the chief minister. He was to retire from the services in July this year but opted for voluntary retirement which was accepted by the state government.nnSource: Press Trust of India