West Bengal State Electricity Board will see a new chairman after March 18 when the tenure of the present chairman, GD Gautama ends. Sanjay Mitra is slated to take over as the new chairman of the board after March 18.
The change has coincided with a major battle between WBSEB and the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) over power tariff. WBERC had awarded a hike which has been challenged by WBSEB as being too meagre. The matter has become the subject of litigation before Calcutta High Court.
Around 46 years of age, he at present is the additional resident commissioner for government of West Bengal, posted in New Delhi. Gautama on the other hand will takeover as the chief executive officer of Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) after March 18.
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Like other state electricity boards, WBSEB is reeling under losses. Mitra will have a tough job bringing it back to black. According to a schedule submitted to the government WBSEB is slated to break even by 2005.
This year the board has targeted Rs 3,000 crore realisation. The realisation of the official target will depend on the outcome of the case that is pending before the High Court.
The board had asked for a 33 per cent hike in electricity tariff for the year 2002-03, which was expected to provide it with an incremental revenue of Rs 822 crore. The utility had also asked for a 34 per cent transmission and distribution loss from WBERC.
The new Electricity Act which was enacted in July this year has resulted in the utility