Debidutta Biswal takes charge as mines director

Bhubaneswar: Senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Debidutta Biswal has taken over as the director of mines.

Biswal, a 1988-batch IFS officer of Odisha cadre, took over the charge from Deepak Mohanty on Wednesday.

Biswal was posted as the special secretary in the forest & environment department before his assignment as mines director.

He will have many challenges in the coming days as several mines including coal blocks would be auctioned.

Deepak Mohanty’s in extended service as director of mines has expired on June 30.