New Chief Secretary Punetha to take charge today

Amaravati: CCLA Special Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha will take charge as Chief Secretary of AP around 3 pm from incumbent CS Dinesh Kumar on Sunday. Dinesh Kumar, who has been serving in the coveted post from April 2017 after taking over from Ajeya Kallam, is retiring on the day. The State government has appointed the fifth Chief Secretary within four and-a-half-years of bifurcation.

IYR Krishna Rao being was the first CS of the State, who was succeeded by Satya Prakash Tucker in 2016 and hewas followed by AjeyaKallam who served for a month in 2017. Dinesh Kumar took charge from him.  Punetha completed under graduation and later LLB from University of Delhi. He completed Masters in Arts in Rural Development at University of East Anglia in England. He joined the civil services in 1984 as IAS officer.He was first posted as Sub-Collector for Rajampet in Kadapa district in Rayalaseema. Then he was appointed as Sub Collector at Parvatipuram in Vizianagaram district in the north coastal AP.

He served as Joint Collector at Kurnool in Rayalaseema and also in Medak district which is in Telangana. He also served as the DRDA Project Officer at Medak.He served as District Collector in Srikakulam, MD of AP State Werehousing Corporation, CEF of Water Conservation, Commissioner for Rural Development, Horticulture and Health and Medical departments. He also worked as Principle Secretary for Agriculture and Revenue departments. At present, he is Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) in the grade of Special Chief Secretary.