The former finance secretary’s assignment is about assessing the linkages between GDP growth and protection of natural resources
With less than a month to go for the Union Budget, Ashok Chawla, who retired as finance secretary on January 31, has shifted to another room in North Block, which houses the finance ministry. He is in charge of a different assignment now, one that has nothing to do with the Budget.
Although not much details are available on Chawla’s new project, it is learnt that it is about assessing the linkages between GDP (gross domestic product) growth and protection of natural resources. Or, whether exploitation of natural resources hurts GDP growth. The project comes under the Cabinet Secretariat and is being considererd very significant by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Chawla, a 1973-batch Gujarat-cadre IAS officer, is occupying a room on the ground floor, which usually hosts visiting dignitaries like chiefs of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). An official told Business Standard Chawla had been coming to North Block even after retirement. Ahead of the Budget, the media is not allowed to enter the finance ministry building, fearing leakage of information.
Besides the finance ministry, Chawla has held top positions in ministries like civil aviation.
As this is a short-term project, the former finance secretary may take up a longer assignment in due course. If the buzz is to be believed, he has a few offers, including for the top post at the Central Information Commission.
After Chawla’s retirement, Expenditure Secretary Sushama Nath has been appointed finance secretary and is leading the Budget-making process. Nath, who was to retire at the end of March, has been given extension till May 31, so that the Budget process can be completed under her leadership. Meanwhile, Banking Secretary R Gopalan has been designated as economic affairs secretary. Usually, the economic affairs secretary takes over as the finance secretary.