Putting rest to speculations, Shikhar Agrawal, additional chief secretary, forest environment and climate change has been transferred as additional chief secretary to chief minister office. This was much awaited posting. There had been speculations that officer from other cadre or Delhi may head chief minister officer. Till now T Ravikanth, principal secretary UDH was holding the responsibility of principal secretary to CM Bhajan Lal Sharma as an additional charge.
Shikhar Agrawal, a 1993-batch IAS officer is considered as a go-getter. He is an efficient and effective officer. He had a silent period during Ashok Gehlot government but during last BJP government he was in thick of action.
As the commissioner Jaipur Development Authority, Agrawal has done excellent work. Officers who have worked closely acknowledge his meticulous planning and execution. He is also considered a straight forward officer. Shikhar Agrawal is known for not budging under political pressure. It was evident when as the JDA commissioner he removed encroachment of Raj Mahal Palace withstanding all the political pressure.
Shikhar Agrawal was on central deputation also
Shikhar Agrawal has had experience and exposure of working at centre also. He was central deputation from March 2009 to February 2014. During this stint, he had served as director in the minsitry of revenue followed by being private secretary to Subramanian Ramadorai, who was adviser to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Prime Minister's National Council on Skill Development.
During his 30 years of service, Shikhar Agrawal had been collector of four districts including Udaipur, Bikaner, Jalore and Hanumangarh.
In his current posting as additional chief secretary forest, environment and climate change also, Shikhar Agrawal has managed to pull up a great performance. He was also handling additional charge of chairman, pollution control board.
In another order, Nalini Kathotia, who was put under awaiting posting order, has been posted as director minority affairs. She was put on APO after chief secretary Sudhansh Pant, on his surprise visit to JDA, didn't find Kathotia in her officer when she was serving as JDA secretary. The chief secretary also found unprocessed files in her office which was stuck for without reason.
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