A diplomat, two IAS and a banker meet in North Block to talk tourism

WHEN a diplomat, two IAS officers and a banker met in North Block on Monday, it was all about creating tourism infrastructure. As juices were served, these gentlemen got ready to sign pacts on tourism, and also for a photo ops thereafter. Those who gathered included Venu Rajamony, a 1986 batch IFS officer, VK Jeyakodi, 1984 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS, Dr SS Sandhu, a 1988 batch Uttarakhand cadre IAS and Narhari Rao, deputy country director for India in Asian Development Bank. Rajamony is joint secretary (multilateral institutions) in department of economic affairs; Jeyakodi, principal secretary tourism in Tamil Nadu and Sandhu, secretary tourism in Uttarakhand...

It was all about signing a $43.84 million loan agreement for improving tourism environment in Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. This loan is a part of Infrastructure Development Investment Program for Tourism which was approved in 2010 for $250 million to develop tourism-related infrastructure in four states - Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu. The first tranche for $43.42 million for Punjab and Himachal Pradesh is under implementation.

The project includes development of eco-tourism, boat house areas, tourist support infrastructure and beach resort complex in various cities of Tamil Nadu and development of gardens, fountains and water support facilities along banks of Ganga canal and adventure tourism centres in cities of Uttarakhand.

Action and Appointments

a) Priti Mohanty, a 1977 batch Indian Defence Accounts Service, has taken over as Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA).

b) The tenure of joint secretary in the ministry of defence Ranjan Kumar Ghose, a 1982 batch Indian Audit and Accounts Services officer, has been extended for three months beyond May 8, 2012.

c) VS Madan, a 1981 batch AGMUT cadre IAS and joint secretary in the ministry of culture, has been given an extension for three months beyond March 28, 2012.

d) SKG Rahate, a 1990 batch Jharkhand cadre IAS, currently a joint secretary in agriculture ministry, has been appointed as Financial Commissioner, Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).