The glorious years left behind by Chief Secretary designate Suresh Chandra Mohapatra

Bhubaneswar, Dec 25: Senior IAS officer Suresh Chandra Mohapatra was today appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Odisha. He will take over the reins of the state administration from the present incumbent Asit Kumar Tripathy from the New Year. Born at Kansar village in Deogarh district in 1962 Mohapatra belongs to Keonjhar district. He passed matriculation from DN High School Keonjhar, B. Sc.  from Ravenshaw college in 1982 and MSc tech Applied Geology from ISM Dhanbad in 1985. Mohapatra joined IAS in 1986 after brief stint in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). After probation training in Sambalpur district  he was posted as Sub collector Nuapada in Kalahandi district for 2 years from 1988 to 1990. Thereafter he served as ADM Puri followed by PD DRDA Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts between 1990 to 1993 and subsequently joined as first Collector of newly formed Bhadrak district in 1993 after the riots. During serious Kandhamal riots the then Chief Minister Biju Pattnaik posted him as collector Kandhamal to control the riots. During Naba Kalebar of lord Jagannath  in 1996, he was posted as collector Puri and removed encroachment around Meghanad Pacheri and conducted Nabakalevar smoothly. Besides Mohapatra worked in Omfed as MD for about 6 years and launched many new products. He was entrusted with responsibility of CEO, CESU after the power company AES left suddenly. He also led GRIDCO as CMD for 3 years and later became RDC Cuttack for 2 years. He was appointed as the first Chief Administrator of Puri Temple for 3 years. He also performed his role during his tenure as secretary of various departments including energy and forest.