SMK picks Srivastava as his secretary

Krishna first chose Karnataka cadre officer S K Patnaik as his private secretary, but the Appointments Committee of Cabinet rejected it. Reason: those being appointed PS will have to be below the rank of a joint secretary. The 1982 batch officer, currently Director, National Horticulture Mission, already enjoys the rank of a joint secretary. 

After this, the minister decided to fall back on K N Srivastava, a senior Karnataka-cadre IAS officer, now Director- General, Archeological Survey of India.

The Centre on August 11 appointed the 1978 batch officer as additional secretary and financial adviser of the External Affairs Ministry. He will succeed N Bala Baskar who retires on August 31.

Old favourite
When Krishna was the Karnataka chief minister, Srivastava became close to him as MD of Krishna Jala Bhagya Nigam, when the Almatti dam was completed, and later of KPTCL.

Srivastava has the experience of working in MEA as he was PS to then Minister of State Natwar Singh, from 1987 to 1989. Though Srivastava is appointed additional secretary in the ministry now, he will be at hand to help out Krishna in other matters as well.

However, Srivastava, who has served in various capacities both in Karnataka and in the Government of India, will also continue in his present post at least initially. The government order says that his appointment to the new post will be subject to his “handing over charge of the post of DG, ASI, only when a new incumbent joins that position.” This means that Srivastava will continue both as DG as well as in Ministry of External Affairs for some time.

The senior officer, who was MD, Hutti Gold Mines and Bangalore Metro, had also served as JS in the ministries of culture and civil aviation in Delhi.