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K K Gupta

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For Arun Balakrishnan newly-the new Chairman cum Managing Director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd(HPCL) -one of India's leading Fortune 500 companies, welfare of the staff & thereby ensuring progress of the company are of paramount importance.Politeness,sharpness coupled with dedication are major strengths of Balakrishnan who after assuming the post of CMD of HPCL on April 1, 2007 gave an exclusive interview to <whispersinthecorridors.com> .Hitherto he was Director (Human Resources) with the HPCL--one of the India's leading Fortune 500 companies.

He started his career with HPCL over three decades ago. He has handled various portfolios in Marketing, Corporate and HR of the oil major and possesses a rich experience in the oil sector. He also had a 5 year stint with the Oil Coordination Committee as Director - Planning.

In his capacity as Director - Human Resources, Balakrishnan introduced a number of contemporary People Management initiatives. As a result the Corporation came to be acknowledged as one of the 'Best Employers in India -2004' in the study conducted by Hewitt Associates and CNBC- TV 18. Under his leadership, HPCL was also the recipient of 'Award in Best Work Place Practices' by Asian Forum for Corporate Social Responsibility, Philipines in 2004. HPCL also received the Golden Peacock National Training Award for 2005 and an award for Commitment to Building and Learning Organisation by Peter Senge in 2006.

In the recent past, the All India Management Association has conferred a fellowship and the Institute of Engineers (India) have presented a Scroll of Honour for recognition 'of his outstanding contribution to the profession of Chemical Engineering'.

Arun Balakrishnan feels "current ceilings on product pricing are not very helpful. Hence Finance will be a key focus area." His mind has many innovative ideas which he would share with the concerning authorities & world at an appropriate time. A relaxed but confident CMD of the oil major unfolded his aims and roadmap for steering the company to newer heights.Here goes his interview:

1/Will you please list your at least two priorities?

I have taken over the mantle of HPCL from April 1. The transition itself was uneventful as the HP top team has always been well knit and professional. My predecessor M. B. Lal who superannuated on March 31, 2007, has bequeathed me a well managed Company with well thought out strategic objectives and proven processes. I am thankfull for that.

2/What are your expansion plans?

As the months roll by, challenges will come by. The first and major one would be attracting and retaining talent. It takes about two to three years to train a fresh engineer on the intricacies of refinery operations.Same is applicable for ERP, Finance and HR.

And someone comes and offers him/her three times what he/she gets. Luckily PSU salaries are due for a revision effective January 2007. But even if the salaries are doubled, it would be difficult to match the market. So high levels of recruitment and attrition are going to be part of life.

The second challenge would be project management. We have nearly Rs. 5000 crores of projects to be carried out in the next two years. This is in addition to the huge investment in our Bhatinda Refinery project. Needless to say, some innovative thinking is required to get things done as per schedule.

Third challenge would be managing cash flow. Large projects have large incubation periods. Current ceilings on product pricing are not very helpful. Hence Finance will be a key focus area.

3/What are other issues that need to be addressed?

Taxes and duties are another area of concern. Maybe we need to consider reduction of duties on petrol so as to bring its price in line with that of diesel. This can deter the shift to diesel for cars in India. And probably, more appropriate use of our refinery products

A warning for TATAs, Birlas and Ambanis !

TATAs, Birlas and Ambanis, beware! Mittals have started taking more interest in India. They have even started staying in the country five to six days a month. Really, a new "Pehelwan" in Indian arena.

CCIT I Mumbai seeks VRS

Chief Commissioner of Income-Tax, Mumbai, I K Venkatramani, has sought VRS with effect from today. He is 1971 batch IRS officer.

Sujit Banerjee empanelled

Sujit Banerjee is reported to have been empanelled to the rank of Secretary Equivalent in the Government of India. He is 1972 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Vijay Gokhale is JS (East Asia ) in MEA

Vijay Gokhale has joined MEA as Joint Secretary (East Asia) in place of Ashok Kantha (IFS 77) who is proceeding as High Commissioner to Malaysia. He is 1981 batch IFS officer.

New JS level posts in GoI ?

A couple of new Joint Secretary level posts are likely to be created in the Government of India soon.

Shahi to set up Company ?

Grapevine has it that outgoing Secretary Power in the Government of India R V Shahi is setting up a private company.

Tenure of Pankaj Agrawal to expire in April

Deputation tenure of Joint Secretary Information Technology in the Government of India, Pankaj Agrawal, is coming to an end on April 26. He is 1978 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.

Three Additional Secretaries in Lok Sabha to retire

Three Additional Secretaries of Lok Sabha will retire this year. They are Mssrs S K Sharma, Rajgopalan Nair and P K Sandhu.

Sikkim cadre IAS joins Chhattisgarh Government

Sikkim cadre 1994 batch IAS officer, K Sreenivaslu, has joined the Chhatigarh Government on inter-state deputation. He has been appointed Director Statistics and Planning.

Tenure of Thakur to expire

Tenure of Minister Economic in Tokyo, A K Thakur, will expire on April 7. He is 1979 batch IAS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre.

Appointments in Forests at standstill

Appointments in the Forest department, at all levels, have come to standstill for quite some time. What could be the reason?.

Arunchal Pradesh in for a Constitutional crisis

Arunachal Pradesh is in for a Constitutional Crisis.Twenty five of 33 ruling Congress party MLAs have withdrawn their support to Government being headed by Chief Minister Gegong Apang.All eleven cabinet colleagues of the CM have resigned.Entire lot of dissident MLAs is camping in the North India.The party High Command has asked Oscar Fernandes,Ahmad Patel & Vincent George to explore possibilities for a compromise incumbent in place of Apang.The State assembly has a strength of 60 MLAs of which BJP has nine MLAs and 14 are independents.Two each MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) and Arunchal Pradesh Congress are also there.

BCCI moots hike in allowances of members

Though members of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have quit from the Board owning moral responsibility, their counterparts in India have refused to do so. The Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) members ,in fact have moved a proposal to hike allowance of Board members .This is aimed facilitating them to be personally present in future matches that the Indian team plays in any part of the globe.

Two DIGs promoted in TamilNadu

Two DIGs S Rajendran and S Ramanathan have been promoted to the rank of IG in TamilNadu.

Term of Liberhan Commission extended

The term of the Liberhan Commission, set up to inquire into circumstances that led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, has been extended by three months to June 30.

FORUM

Raj to Senapati ka hota hai

The article that Mobile Communication Towers have been built in Defence Land is just a tip of the iceberg. Such cases are common at Unit/Brigade Level where the local commanders are doing such acts with impunity. After misuse of Defence Lands (ie towers / so called unit schools / shopping centres (like the one of Santushti near Prime Ministers House) becomes de-facto. Proposals are mooted for their regularisation and the Ministry of Defence just becomes a silent actor becoming rubber stamp as the Service Officers clearly claim, Raaj To Senapati Ka Hi Hota Hai - Bagair Sena Kya Karoge - Jo Ham Chahenge - Hoga - Defence Secretary nahin to Pradhan Mantri Kar Denge - Land Bahut Hai - Ham jaise chahenge, vaise karenge.
Really a shameful act on the part of Services, which Ministry has only to ignore - being toothless.
R S Dudani

Will PMO take note ?

There had been lot of talk about BRO taking up major challenge in building up of infrastructure in NE .A Restructuring proposal was even approved by cabinet committee in Dec 2006. When is that happening? Or is it that bureaucrats of MoD/ MORTH are aloof to the national urgency. Will PMO take note of this?

Pramod

Is it correct data ?

The Assocham must have made a demand of 17 lakh acres or hectares of 'unutilised defence lands' on the basis of data supplied to them by some agency, possibly the same organization who controls and manages those defence lands. Ojha has pointed out to some inaccuracy in the data. The data further appears to be incorrect as it does not show the huge chunk of defence lands which is under unauthorised occupation and encroachment through out the country. Such lands can not shown under the head "utilised" and if they are added to the 17 lakh acres or hectares, as the case may be, the quantum of unutilised or vacant land will increase enormously. Unfortunately the authorities of defence estates are not bothered about growing menace of encroachments and unauthorised occupation of defence lands. The assurance given by the government authorities in a PIL also do not appear to have been implemented seriously. The authorities here have also been reported to have furnished inaccurate information to parliamentary standing committee on training programmes conducted by its national institute. In such a backdrop, the possibility of Assocham getting correct data from defence estates, had they approached them, appear to be a futile exercise.

Bijoy Kumar Sathpathy

TAIL-PIECE

A little bit of Indian humor....
>
> Bengali
> One Bengali = poet.
> Two Bengalis = a film society.
> Three Bengalis = political party.
> Four Bengalis = two political parties.
> More than four Bengali's = Countrywide agitation to bring Ganguli into
> Team.
>
> Bihari
> One Bihari = Laloo Prasad Yadav.
> Two Biharis = booth-capturing squad.
> Three Biharis = caste killing.
> Four Biharis = entire literate population of Patna.
>
> Punjabi
> One Punjabi =100 kg hulk named Pinky.
> Two Punjabis = Pinky with his bigger brother Twinky.
> Three Punjabis = assault on the McAloo Tikkis at the local McDonalds.
> Four Punjabis = combined IQ equal to one.
>
> Mallu
> One Mallu = coconut stall.
> Two Mallus = a boat race.
> Three Mallus = Gulf job racket.
> Four Mallus = oil slick.
>
> UP Bhaiyya
> One UP bhaiyya = a milkman.
> Two UP bhaiyyas = halwai shop.
> Three UP bhaiyyas = a fist-fight in the UP assembly.
> Four UP bhaiyyas = mosque-destruction squad.
>
> Gujju
> One Gujju = share-broker in a Bombay train.
> Two Gujjus = rummy game in a Bombay train.
> Three Gujjus = Bombay's noisiest restaurant.
> Four Gujjus = stock market scam.
>
> Andhraite
> One Andhraite = chili farmer.
> Two Andhraites = software company in New Jersey.
> Three Andhraites = Naxalite outfit.
> Four Andhraites = song-and-dance number in a Telugu movie.
>
> Kashmiri
> One Kashmiri = carpet salesman.
> Two Kashmiris = carpet factory.
> Three Kashmiris = terrorist outfit.
> Four Kashmiris = shoot-at-sight order.
>
> Tamil-Brahmin
> One Tam-Brahm = priest at the Vardarajaperumal temple.
> Two Tam-Brahms = Maths tuition class.
> Three Tam-Brahms = Queue outside the U.S consulate at 4 a.m.
> Four Tam-Brahms = Thyagaraja music festival in Santa Clara.
>
> Mumbaikar
> OneMumbaikar = footpath vada-pav stall.
> TwoMumbaikars= film studio.
> ThreeMumbaikars = slum.
> FourMumbaikars = The number of people standing on your foot in the
> train at rush hour.
>
> Sindhi
> One Sindhi = currency racket.
> Two Sindhis = papad factory.
> Three Sindhis = duplicate goods shop in Ulhasnagar.
> Four Sindhis = Hong Kong Retail Traders Association.
>
> Marwari
> One Marwari = The neighbourhood foodstuffs adulterator.
> Two Marwaris = 50% of Calcutta.
> Three Marwaris = Finish off all Gujaratis & Sindhis.
> Four Marwaris = Threaten the Jews as a community.
>
> Haryanvi
> One Haryanavi = tube light
> Two Haryanavi = agriculture
> Three Haryannavi= Lathi squad
> Four Haryanavi = actually just one was enough
Contributed by- Col Satish Dewan

Aaj Ki Aawaz

Imaginary interview with Amrinder Singh

I happened to be in London and was seated on a bench near the London Eye. All of a sudden I heard some moaning and groaning coming from a nearby bench. I turned around and saw the back of a hefty Sardarji. Out of sympathy for a fellow Indian I got up and walked to the bench and was surprised to see that it was Amrinder Singh and he was moaning and groaning with his mouth full ........ in one hand he had a hot dog and in the other a beer.

Amrinder (swallowing): Oye are you following me….. this is a Monarchy and you know Royalty is protected here!!!
Me: I'm just here on a holiday……what a surprise meeting you here......why are you so aggressive!!!
Amrinder: Oye who are you to question me……. now after leaving office I'm not answerable to anyone…. least any commoner!!
Me: You are not even answerable to Sonia Ji????
Amrinder: Don't try to act smart…….

Me: I understand Sonia Ji has issued a diktat that either you resign from Congress or you return to India asap!!!
Amrinder: I'm not well and I'm here for medical treatment …. I've sent Sonia ji my medical certificate!!!
Me: You look hale and hearty and I can see you are drinking beer and eating a hot dog filled with mustard…… what's wrong with you???

Amrinder: None of your business…….. but now that you've asked…….. I have a circulatory problem and am undergoing extensive tests …… every capillary in my body is being tested….. test will take at least three to four years!!! And haven't you heard of comfort food and drink????
Me: Can't this test be done in India???
Amrinder: No….. this is a rare disease and the Specialist for this disease is here in London.
Me: How's B.I.S.????

Amrinder: Fine…….oye how the hell should I know???
Me: Tell me after all that bravado that Amrinder Singh never turns his back you just slunk away out of India after the election debacle!!!
Amrinder: Initially I was not willing to go out for Medical Treatment but then when my condition worsened and when medicines just did not give me relief I decided to come to London for medical help!!
Me: From when have you been suffering from this disease.... and how did you choose London????
Amrinder: After the elections were announced I started to get this constricted feeling and B.I.S. sent my reports to various Doctors!!
Me: The constricted feeling must be just 'thadthaditis'!!!
Amrinder: What's that???
Me: Just jitters!!

Amrinder: I'm not a jittery person…….. haven't you seen my hunting trophies in New Moti Bagh Palace!!!
Me: But this time it's the other way around……you're the hunted one!!!
Amrinder: I'm willing to take on Badal anywhere!!!
Me: Well then just go back to India…. Badal has even offered to receive you at the Airport!!!!
Amrinder: I'm willing to go back but my Doctor wants me to sign a disclaimer and I'm not willing to do this!!!

Me: Manpreet Badal says that you've left an empty Treasury!!!
Amrinder: Its how you look at it……..I say its not full or they say its empty!!!
Me: During you regime Punjab debt rocketed!!!
Amrinder: You see I'm not a finance man….. never been good with figures…… for this you'll have to ask Singla!!!

Me: But you've been rattling figures for five years!!
Amrinder: Those were figures provided by various Departments …… you'll have to verify matters with the various Departments in case you have any questions on the figures I gave!!!
Me: Chalo with the sound bytes available Badal Sarkar will look into this!!! What about the City Centre scam???

Amrinder: The file cam to me once and I put my notings on the file!!! Ask Chowdhary Jagjit Singh about the details!!
Me: Well by the looks of it once you come back to India you will get plenty of time to ask Chowdhary Jagit Singh and Hanspal on this and they too will get the same opportunity...... after all you guys will be spending quite a lot of time together ..... maybe days and nights locked up in one room!!!
Amrinder: I've warned Badal if he troubles any of my boys I'll deal with him…… Badal should not forget that Congress is in power in the Centre!!!

Me: But from what I hear no one in the Centre wants to be seen with you…… you've become a huge embarrassment for Congress……. don't forget Centre cannot prevent Badal from pursing corruption cases against your Sarkaar!!!

Amrinder: My lawyers will deal with Punjab Sarkar!!!
Me: Like Medical help will you also be getting Legal help form London????
Amirnder: Don't get smart with me….. my AG is on the job!!!
Me: Your AG?????? But you no longer are the CM ???
Amrinder: He's now the AG to the House Of Patiala!!!

Me: And now are Virk and Sharma advisors on Security to the House of Patiala???
Amrinder: Oye bandaa bann jaa…… pangaa with me could prove to be very expensive???
Me: Chalo now that I've taken it I'm not going to back out…… you must have head Iqbal's Poetry…… girthe hai Shehsawaar maidaane jangh mein woh tifall kya girre joh challe ghutno ke bal parr!!!
Amrinder: What you're calling me a tiffal ( coward)??????

Me: Its just your guilty conscience!!! Chalo how do you spend your days here???
Amrinder: Well I get up at noon and after a few Bloody Mary's and a hearty English breakfast I start making calls…… then a a couple of Vodkas and a hearty Lunch….. then I take a nap and in the evening for exercise I go an sit at any one of the Tourist attractions in London and then I return have a few Patiala pegs followed by a hearty Dinner and after a couple of nightcaps I retire for the night!!
Me: Is this the lifestyle of a sick man???

Amrinder: Well my motto is live life Patiala style!!!
Me: Bitta says that you've married a Pakistani lady!!
Amrinder: As long as my wife does not have any complaints nobody can question me!!!
Me: But he says you took her around in your Chopper despite her not having a Visa to travel around India???

Amrinder: I took her to Ajmer only……. and if Manmohan Singh can bend backwards for the majority minority why complain if I did a little bending of the rules???
Me: By the way what were you moaning and groaning about????
Amrinder: What will you know…….. what happens when you lose power……..dill de tukkde hazaar hooe!!!

Me: Okay time to leave…… bye….. hope to see you in India???
Amrinder: You hope to see me there and I hope to return only after hopefully the coast is clear for me!!!
Me: Hope pe toh duniya kaayam hai!!!

Bharat Kumar

Aaj_ki_aawaz@yahoo.com

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CORPORATE

Will BSNL CMD be Member of TDSAT ?

Name of BSNL CMD A K Sinha figures in the panel for the post of Member of the TDSAT. Sinha is scheduled to relinquish office in July.

UTI CMD denied extension

The RBI is reported to have denied two years extension in tenure to UTI CMD P J Nayak.His tenure is coming to an end on July 31.

Shankar to be ED of BHEL

Shankar is being promoted to the rank of ED in August in the Corporate office of the BHEL.

Rangnathan is MD of Hindustan Antibiotics

T K Rangnathan has been appointed Managing Director of the Hindustan Antibiotics.

Heavy Enginering earns profit

After a long time Heavy Engineering Corporation has earned a net profit of Rs 11.09 acre in the last financial year.

SAIL's big expansion plant to expand BSP

The Board of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has given in-principle approval to a proposal for modernisation and capacity expansion of Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) to 7 million tonnes (MT) of crude steel per annum at an indicative cost of Rs. 11,262 crore. At present, BSP has the capacity to produce 3.93 MT of crude steel.

MECON has been selected as consultants for BSP's modernisation & expansion plan that includes installation of a new blast furnace that will be among the biggest in the country, a new 7-metre tall coke oven battery and a new sinter plant. Under modernisation, the ingot route will be phased out and BSP will become a 100% continuous casting plant with addition of a brand new steel melting shop of 4 MT capacity. BSP is a major producer of long steel products, including rails. Modernisation and expansion of BSP is an integral part of SAIL's growth plan that envisages capacity augmentation to around 23 MT of crude steel by the year 2010.

Dhobale is CII Chief AP

Pradeep Dhobale of the ITC has been elected as new chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Andhra Pradesh.

Jet Airways VP resigns

Vice-President Corporate Affairs of the Jet Airways Nandini Verma has reportedly resigned.

Mail is again ED of AP Paper Mills

R.C. Mall has been re-appointed as ED of Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills Ltd for three years.

Term of Liberhan Commission extended

The term of the Liberhan Commission, set up to inquire into circumstances that led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, has been extended by three months to June 30.