Airport fire: Axe falls on Secretary

Alleged differences between investment and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and senior IAS officer Sunil Sharma, his secretary, has led to Sharma being shunted out.

Also, the corridors of power are abuzz with the speculation that Sharma has been shifted following the major fire at the Begumpet airport which destroyed the government helicopter and six planes.  Srinivasa Rao also holds the airports and seaports portfolio.

The state government on Wednesday shifted Sharma from the post of secretary in the department of investment and infrastructure and posted him as commissioner of civil supplies. No officer has been posted in Sharma’s place now.

The Government also transferred another IAS officer, Harpreet Singh, who was commissioner of civil supplies, and posted him as special commissioner of commercial taxes.

Sharma was posted as secretary, investment and infrastructure, only in May this year and his transfer has raised many an eyebrow in the IAS fraternity. According to sources, minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao is  unhappy with him allegedly for being slow in clearing files and delaying matters.

Interestingly, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is touring Visakhapatnam, was all praise for Srinivasa Rao for his efforts to develop infrastructure in the state.

During the chief minister’s two-day tour of Visakhapatnam, Ganta had discussions with him which has now ended up in Sharma’s transfer.

Repeated attempts by this correspondent to reach Sharma have proved futile.