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Report by OD bureau, New Delhi : In a renewed focus on urban development and improving urban environment, the State Government has posted a senior IFS officer Sisir Kumar Ratho as Special Secretary in the Housing & Urban Development Department.
Ratho a 1987 batch Odisha Cadre IFS officer is presently working as Additional Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Odisha at New Delhi and will return to Odisha after about 11 years of stay in New Delhi.
The move comes closely after signing of Rs. 365 crore loan agreement with German Development Bank KfW by Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (OUIDF) for urban infrastructure financing as well as Rs. 220 crore assistance from DFID (U.K) for reforms in governance of urban local bodies i.e., Municipalities and Notified Area Councils (NACs) in the state. Observers feel that with the appointment of a designated officer to look after OUIDF the process of urban infrastructure financing will get a boost.
Before returning to Odisha Ratho has worked in the Ministry of Environment & Forests and in the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs Government of India. In Sports Ministry he was actively involved in creation of mega infrastructure projects for Delhi Commonwealth Games-2010 as well as urban beautification programme in Union Capital. He was also associated in setting up of Yamuna Biodiversity Park of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) during his tenure in the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Ratho has travelled widely in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China and brings with him rich experience of working with international agencies, UN bodies and programme implementation at national and international level.
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