Imphal, June 28 2009: If you think the post of Chief Secretary is the highest bureaucratic hierarchy which every IAS officer pines for, think twice.

Senior most IAS officer of the state, DV Singh, who is also the undisputed replacement for outgoing Chief Secretary, Rakesh has refused to accept the post landing the government into disarray.

According to a highly reliable source, DV Singh, currently posted as Resident Commissioner of Manipur Bhavan, Delhi at the rank of Additional Chief Secretary has turned down the offer to replace the outgoing CS Rakesh.

Incumbent CS, Rakesh is due to retire from service on June 30 as his six months extended service period expires.

The refusal of the senior IAS officer to occupy the post of CS has landed the government into confusion as whom to appoint to head the executives of the state, the source said.

It also indicates that the present officer who holds the charge of Additional CS, DS Poonia � though he ranks third in the seniority lists � may be appointed to replace the outgoing CS.

The reason behind the refusal to accept responsible post could be the political pressure that every bureaucrat falls upon, the source said.

Meanwhile, a high level Central team of the Planning Commission of India led by Special Consultant, Feroza Mohapatra will arrive at Imphal on June 29 for a three-day visit to the state.

The team will inspect the projects implemented under the Central's funding.

According to an official source, the high level Central team will comprise the Advisor of the Planning Commission (North East), Brahmo Choudhury; Joint Secretary of the Home Affairs, Navin Verma; Consultant of the Ministry of Rural Development, SC Goutam; and a representative from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The Central team is said to review various projects and schemes implemented with funding from the Centre including rehabilitation programmes for drug addicts, and surrender cum rehabilitation schemes at the Conference Hall of the Old Secretariat on June 30 .

The team will also inspect the development of wetlands in and around Loktak pat, the source said.

It may be recalled that a rehabilitation centre for surrendered militants has been constructed at Jiribam with funding from the Centre.

During the three-day visit, the team is also said to prepare the annual plan of Special Plan Assistance for the year 2009-10 apart from assessing the developmental works taken up under SPA.

It is worth mentioning here that the Chief Secretary has chaired a meeting on June 20 last discussing the wetlands development of Loktak pat area that has been implemented by the Loktak Development Authority (LDA).

The Chief Secretary had assured to highlight the paucity of fund faced by the LDA to the visiting Central team.

The team will also inspect the drug de-addiction centres at Imphal, Churachandpur and Moreh with funding from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).

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