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An IRS officer

FIRST CHOICE OF DECISION MAKERS

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Secretary level appointments this week

A couple of Secretary level appointments are being made in the Government of India this week end.

Will Nand Kumar move to Textiles ?

Grapevine has it that Secretary Food and Civil Supplies in the Government of India T Nand Kumar is moving to the Textile Ministry.He is 1972 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre.

Sudha Pillai to succeed Nand Kumar ?

Sudha Pillai is likely to be appointed Secretary Food and Civil Supplies in the Government of India. She is 1972 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre.

1973 batch IAS unlikely to be Secretary Power

The PMO is of the opinion that IAS officer belonging to 1973 batch should not be appointed Secretary Power in the Government of India.Indication is sufficient.

Rawla appointed JS Animal Husbandry

Swarnmala Rawla has been appointed Joint Secretary Animal Husbandry in the Government of India. She is 1980 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre.
( We said this on September 4)

Mohta joins Foreign Service Institute

Dr Madup Mohta (IFS '85) has taken over the work of Ajay Gondane (IFS '85) in the Foreign Service Institute, who has been designated as Coordinator of BIMSTEC and SAARC Summits in February and April 2007
respectively.

Sonia is the real boss

AICC President Ms Sonia Gandhi has once again illustrated at the Nainital conclave that she is the real boss.

More resignations likely !

A few more resignations of the senior IFS officers are said to be in the offing. Three IFS officers have already put in their papers.

Kamal Kumar gets extension

Director of the National Police Academy Kamal Kumar has been granted one month extension. 1971 batch Andhra Pradesh cadre IPS officer Kamal Kumar was to retire on September 30.
( We said this on September 18)

Why is Rajasthan CM down ?

The body language of the Rajasthan CM, Vasundhara Raje, indicates that she is down these days. Why is it so?

Egroup of 1990 batch IAS

You may like to mention that the IAS 1990 batch started its egroup in September 2001, and has 95 members now spread over several continents. In case any IAS 90 officer not already in the group would like to join, he or she may send an email to ias90-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.in
A similar e-group is being created for the 56th FC from Mussoorie, which passed out in December 1990. All interested in joining may send an email to 56thFC-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Bhargava to retire next month

Member of the CBDT Arun Bhargava is superannuating by next month end. He is 1970 batch IRS officer.

FORUM

At last the Supreme Court has intervened in Police reform! Just what is happening to police in India?
" The Indian Police Act was made by the Government of India, but (very absurdly) the same Government of India has no actual policing powers! Police is fully under control of state Governments in the garb of "State Subject".
" State governments have become chronically unstable and corrupt.
" What are the type of officers they are actually appointing as State Police Chiefs?
" Criminal cases have been registered against a sitting DGP in MP, against the wife of another sitting DGP in UP, CBI is prosecuting another former DGP in Uttarakhand, and a sitting Police Commissioner of Bombay was arrested and jailed in the famous Telgi case, to give only a few examples.
" Usually the states appoint the junior most eligible officer as he/she is more desperate and so more willing to oblige.
" In the last decade or so, the general trend is that officers who shone most during training (ie the idealists) are usually ignored and professionally the worst frequently succeed in maneuvering themselves to the hot seat. In UP the CBI had asked for prosecution of a certain officer who was protected and later made State Police Chief!
One hopes that non- political and meritorious officers will now be allowed to contribute in stemming the rot.

Syed Khalid Rizvi

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Mush's book has been released …. In the Line of Fire,
In fact it should have been named …. In Line another Liar!!!!

This is another Autobiography that should be classified as a work of fiction!!! With his eyes on the upcoming polls in Pakistan Mush has penned this book!!! Mush says he's like the proverbial cat with nine lives…. hasn't he heard of another proverb….. those who live by the sword die by the sword too!!! His revelation that USA paid Pakistan money for the handover of Qaeda suspects to USA is not going to go down too well with his 'Mai Baap'… USA!!!

Laghe raho Pawar Bhai….. Pawargiri rakho chaloo,
His supporters say that Pawar Sahib will remain in favour jabh takh Vadaa mein rahe ga aaloo!!!

What is Pawargiri……. well its all about making hay when the sun shines…… plenty of hay!!! In Pawar's Raaj the importers and hoarders have made a killing…. Pawar is very popular with some people based in KL, HK and Dubai !!! In BCCI Messrs. Bindra and Modi are on the job!!!! Modi's antecedents are well known and Bindra is the guy whose made the PCA his personal fiefdom….. Boss is known by his handpicked reps!!! And now with Sonia and Manmohan's clean chit Pawar has his five fingers in ghee and his head in the 'kadayee'!!! Laghe raho Pawar Bhai!!!!

And then you have Amrindergiri,
Which in plain and simple terms is nothing but dadagiri!!!

Amrinder is nothing but a bully!!!! He's like the proverbial Georgi Porgie and once the Akalis win he's going to run away!!! Thousands of acres of precious agriculture land has been sacrificed at the alter of SEZs!!! They Ludhiana City Center is daylight robbery…… and it's alleged that his son is the main beneficiary!!! Amrinder's 'eat, drink and be merry' days are coming to an end and very soon his 'run, hide and duck' days will commence!!!

Why burden the Sarkaar ….. why doesn't SP make a Big B protection force???
For inductions into the force SP's goonda ranks would be the apt source!!!

All over the World Stars hire their own protection force!!! The Government does not provide Security….. so why should it be different in India???? And if Big B wants Sarkaari protection then he should be made to cough up the dough for this protection!!! At present the only foreseeable threat to Big B is avid fans wanting to shake his hand or wanting to get photographed with him or wanting his autograph!!! The threat perception that Amar Item Boy is talking about is just another 'crying wolf' story!!!! Now Big B is getting ready to get active in UP Politics……. ek Pehelwan, ek Dalal aur ek Bluffmaster!!! Recall that this Bluffmaster had said some time back that Politics was not his cup of tea???? But then he's just living up to his Bluffmater title!!!

Dev Anand is eighty three… looks sixty plus,
Dev feels weighty three is no milestone so if nonplussed by all the fuss!!!

Dev Anand's secret of good health is healthy eating, keeping busy and being young at heart!!! Dev Sahib sham smoked in reel life ( Hum Dono) but does not smoke in real life!!! Many wonder that where does Dev Anand get the money to make a string of flops….. the secret is his movies are made on a shoestring budget!!! Another reason for his longevity is that he keeps tension at bay….. tensions he leaves to his distributors and financiers!!!

Bharat Kumar

aaj_ki_aawaz@rediffmail.com

WHISPERS .... CORPORATE WORLD

Das to be Chairman of BIAL !

Karnataka Chief Secretary B K Das who is retiring on September 30 is being appointed chairman of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL). He is 1969 batch IAS officer.

Gokarn appointed in HSBC

Ranjit Gokarn has been appointed Risk Management Head of the HSBC in India.

Sarkari appointed MD

Pirojshaw Sarkari has been appointed as Managing Director of the UPS for the Indian sub continent. He succeeds Thomas Matthew.

Prabhakar is GM SBI Chennai

Anoop K. Prabhakar has taken over as General Manager (Network 2), Chennai Circle of the State Bank of India.

TOP BRASS- SPEAK

The National Thermal Power Corporation(NTPC)is poised to take a quantum leap in the power sector by almost doubling its power generation capacity from existing 26,194 MW to 51,000 + MW Company by the year 2012.Even the NTPC is going to make forays into coal mining sector.
These views were expressed in a free and frank interview to "whispersinthecorridors.com"by NTPC chief T Sankaralingam.

Here is his interview

Questionnaire from 'Whispers'

Q.1 What are your expansion plans?

Ans. Today, NTPC is a 26,194 MW Company (including 1054 MW in joint ventures) and has been working towards achieving the target of additional 3210 MW during the current financial year.
We plan to add 21, 941 MW during the 11th Plan which would make us a 51,000 + MW Company by the year 2012. This amounts to nearly doubling our capacity by the year 2012. We also have plans to become a 75,000 + MW Company by the year 2017.
This will include hydro capacity of about 9,000 MW by the year 2017. Nuclear power generation is also being considered as a long-term option and we are looking at this option seriously.
Our strategy for capacity addition will include expanding the existing stations, developing greenfield projects and bidding for projects under the competitive route.
We are diversifying and expanding our business by way of backward and forward integration such as coal mining, coal washery, fuel sourcing, power trading, etc. covering the entire energy value-chain.
The Government of India has allocated 8 coal mine blocks to NTPC, 2 of them to be developed through JVs with Coal India Ltd. By 12th Plan period, we expect to meet nearly 20 to 25% of the coal requirement from the Company's own mines. Thus, NTPC is poised to become the second largest coal producer in the country, next to Coal India Ltd.

NTPC has won an oil/gas exploration field in Arunachal Pradesh in partnership with Canaro Resources & Geo Petrol under NELP Round V through competitive bidding. The production sharing agreement with the Government of India has been signed. Encouraged by this success, we have decided to bid under NELP Round VI. Acquisition of oil/gas exploration blocks will further strengthen the fuel security and economics of our operations.

Q.2 What is your view about the nuclear power? How will thermal power match cost effectiveness vis-à-vis the nuclear power?

Ans. Nuclear is, in fact, one of the conventional sources of power and countries like France have over 70% of their power generation coming from the nuclear source. Some other countries have substantial share of their power generated from the nuclear source. India is also planning to increase the share of nuclear power in its power mix.

Some recent developments are likely to open up opportunities and give a boost to nuclear power generation in India. NTPC would like to utilize such new opportunities and be a part of the efforts for achieving country's energy security.

Q.3 Please tell us your opinion about the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Ans. This is a very important step. The Governments of both the countries are engaged at the highest levels to finalise the details. Any initiative which promotes civil nuclear program of the country in line with our stated national policies and priorities is a welcome step.

Q.4 The Planning Commission's documents has sought for increasing coal efficiency in thermal power plants from 30 percent to 39 percent. Where does the NTPC stand and by when do you think that this target can be achieved?

Ans. The conversion efficiency of NTPC power stations today is around 36%. NTPC is introducing super critical parameters in several new units like in Sipat and Barh. These units will have conversion efficiency of 38-39%. In super critical units with higher steam temperature parameters, the conversion efficiency may go up to 40% and is achievable.

We strongly advocate and support the Planning Commission's policy directives and we are moving towards achieving this goal.

In addition to adoption of super critical parameters, continuous efficiency improvement of the existing units will also result in efficiency gains. Various groups within the company such as engineering, operation services, R&D are working towards the goal of continuous improvement in reliability of operation and efficiency. All this will lead to higher conversion efficiency in the near future.

Q.5. Under the 'Bharat Nirman' scheme, how many villages the NTPC has taken for rural electrification. Please give details.

Ans. Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojana takes care of the rural electrification component of 'Bharat Nirman' scheme, a time bound plan for rural infrastructure development undertaken by the Government of India, in partnership with State Governments and Panchayat Raj Institutions. The scheme is to be completed by the year 2009.

Under the Scheme, the Ministry of Power has the responsibility of providing electricity to the 125,000 villages which have remained uncovered by electrification. In addition, 23 million rural households are to be provided electricity.

NTPC has been making significant contribution to this Yojana through its involvement in projects for electrification of over 40,000 villages in about 30 districts spread across 5 States namely West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa.

Now fly Indian, redeem points on partner brands

Flying on India's leading airline Indian is now more attractive than before. Passengers can accrue points by flying Indian and redeeming them on other leading brands and vice-versa, under the new coalition loyalty program called i-mint. The other five program partners, who have come together on a single platform to create a reward based value program for the customer are ICICI Bank, Airtel, HPCL, Lifestyle Stores and Make-my-trip.com.
The i-mint coalition loyalty program has been initially launched for membership at Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad and will be subsequently extended to cover the entire country. Under the program, i-mint members can earn points by buying petrol at HP outlets, paying Airtel mobile bills, buying clothes at LifestyleStores, buying a hotel package through Make-my-trip, buying an Indian ticket or using ICICI credit card. He/she can then add up all the rewards points accrued to get a product from any of the above partners.
An i-mint member buying an Indian ticket will get 6 points against every Rs.100 spent. Points can be earned only on the basic fare portion of tickets purchased on domestic or international sectors of Indian or Alliance Air. Cardholders can earn points on both existing FFP program of Indian as well as i-mint. For more details about the program, catalogue of rewards, etc. passengers may log on to www.imintpoints.com.