Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo administers oath to new JKWRRA Chairperson Suresh Kumar Gupta

SRINAGAR, June 15: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo administered the Oath of Office to Suresh Kumar Gupta following his appointment as the Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority.

The official ceremony took place at the Civil Secretariat, drawing participation from senior government officers and officials representing the regional water resources sector.

During the event, the Chief Secretary congratulated Gupta, noting that his extensive administrative background and proficiency in natural resource management would enhance the regulatory body’s efforts to achieve sustainable, equitable, and efficient water resource distribution across the Union Territory.

The Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority functions as a statutory body responsible for regulating, managing, and conserving water resources. It holds a vital position in advancing integrated water resource management, protecting regional water security, and advising the government on sustainable utilization policies.

Gupta was formally appointed to the post through Notification S.O. 164 issued under the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Regulation and Management Act of 2010, with his tenure officially starting upon taking charge.An accomplished officer of the 1991 batch of the Indian Forest Service, Suresh Kumar Gupta possesses over three decades of professional experience in public administration, environmental governance, and forest management.

Throughout his career in Jammu and Kashmir, he occupied major roles including Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force. He also served as Principal Secretary for the Culture, Tribal Affairs, and School Education Departments, alongside leadership positions with the J&K Biodiversity Council, Wildlife Department, Social Forestry, Forest Protection Force, Forest Research Institute, and the Forest Development Corporation.

Upon taking office, Gupta thanked the government for the appointment and pledged to improve water governance, support sustainable utilization, and enforce effective regulation of the region’s water resources.