Sail brass set to change

Six top-level changes are in the pipeline at public sector giant Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

Highly-placed sources in the company said the post of managing director at the Durgapur, Bokaro, Bhilai and Rourkela plants, as well as Director (personnel) at the headquarters in New Delhi, could see new faces in the coming days.

Besides, Indian Iron & Steel Company Limited, which is set to merge with SAIL, may finally have its own managing director who will take over from Durgapur Steel Plant Managing Director SK Bhattacharya. At present, Bhattacharya is in charge of IISCO.

Nilotpal Roy, executive director (works) at the Durgapur Steel Plant, has emerged as the front-runner for the IISCO post.

A SAIL spokesperson declined to comment on the developments. But sources said, an interview committee, comprising SAIL Chairman VS Jain, Steel Secretary Mano Ranjan, and members of the Public Enterprises Selection Board, will soon start conducting interviews for these posts. These are described as "routine changes" as the term of these office bearers is nearing an end.

Bhattacharya's term ends on December 31, 2005. The tenures of Rourkela Steel Plant Managing Director Sanak Mishra, Bhilai Steel Plant Managing Director RP Singh, and Director (Personnel) Ashish Das end their tenures later this year. Bokaro Steel Plant Managing Director UP Singh completes his tenure on January 31, 2005.

The appointments are in preparation for these posts which are likely to fall vacant by the year-end or early next year, sources said.