Top 3 hydel power bodies powerless

NHPC, SJVN, DVC without MD, chairman

Even as the country is grappling with a power crisis, a significant chunk of the public sector power bodies are "headless'.

The major hydro electric power utilities in the public sector""National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd and Damodar Valley Corporation""have been operating without full-time chairmen and managing directors (CMD) for some time now.

In addition, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which advises the government on matters related to the power sector has been without a chairman for four months.

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, the country's largest hydro power company, has been without a CMD since May this year, when Yogendra Prasad, retired. AK Gangopadhyay, Director (Projects) has been officiating as CMD since May 1 this year.

Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL), another public sector hydro power company has been with a full time CMD since June. YN Apparao former CMD retired on May 31 and Tarun Kapoor, Director (Personnel) has been officiating as CMD.

Damodar Valley Corporation, another hydel company, whose operations cover the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal, has been operating under an officiating chairman for the last two years. It is not only the public sector units which are running without full-time executives in charge.

The Central Electricity Authority, which advises the government on matters relating to the National Electricity Policy and on safety related matters on the power sector, has also been operating without a chairman for the last four months.

Former Chairman, HL Bajaj has moved to the electricity appellate tribunal.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, set up under the Energy Conservation Act of 2001, with the objective of reducing the energy intensity in the economy, has not had a regular Director General since 2001.

In addition, the director of National Power Training Institute (NPTI), which trains professionals in the power sector to man various positions in operation and maintenance of electrical power transmission and distribution systems has recently resigned.