Karunakaran back as Kovai Collector

CHENNAI: M Karunakaran, former Collector of Coimbatore, who was transferred out on January 6, will be returning to the post soon.The government has transferred TN Hariharan, the present collector, who assumed office on January 13. He will be joining as the deputy secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department. Karunakaran was appointed as Collector of Coimbatore district on May 31, last year. The State on Tuesday transferred a few IAS officers as well. Rajesh Lakhoni, chairman and MD, SIPCOT, will assume charge as the commissioner of Tourism and MD, TN Tourism Development Corporation Limited. He replaces Santosh K Mishra who will take over as the MD of TN News Print and Papers Limited. D Sabitha, ex-chairperson and MD, SIPCOT, will take over as the secretary, School Education Department. T S  Sridhar, who is hitherto fun­ctioning as the secretary to School Education and Higher Education Departments, will now serve as the Higher Education Secretary. S Natarajan, deputy secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, will join as Tiruvarur Collector.