Shimla, July 31 (IANS) Rajwant Sandhu will be the new chief secretary of Himachal Pradesh, replacing Asha Swarup, who retired Saturday.

'Rajwant Sandhu will take over as state chief secretary Monday,' a government spokesman said.

A 1975-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Sandhu, who was earlier on central deputation, returned to the state this month.

Asha Swarup, who retired after 37 years service, was credited with promoting rainwater harvesting structures in rural areas in the state through central government rural employment scheme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

'When I assumed the charge as chief secretary almost two years back, only 10 percent of MGNREGA amount was spent on water harvesting schemes. Now, almost 50 percent of the total amount is being spent on water harvesting structures,' she told reporters here.