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In every room of the North and South Block your page is viewed. A K Manchanda ONLY SOURCE TO REACH THE OPINION MAKERS ADVERTISE ON -WHISPERSINTHECORRIDORS.COM Contact-sureshmehrotra@yahoo.com
We invite you to select a super boss or a super cop and write to us
with your views about his qualities in brief. We would be glad to put
it on our site. Sanjeev Majupuria joins us as Editor Sanjeev Majupuria has joined us as the Editor & Country Head of <whispersinthecorridors.com> Hitherto Sanjeev was Resident Editor with "The Pioneer" which he had joined as Senior Correspondent on November 1,1991.He then graduated to the rank of Principal Correspondent and Special Correspondent. He was Resident Editor of "The Pioneer" ever since launch of the Bhopal edition three years ago. He has a vast experience of over 25 years in the field of journalism and has worked for daily newspapers like "Madhya Pradesh Chronicle"(now known as Central Chronicle), "Free Press Journal" and "The Telegraph." He has also done stringing for the "Reuters" as well as for an International weekly called "India Abroad" for 15 years . His stories have also appeared in "Safety & Risk Management", a monthly magazine published by the British Safety Council, London. A widely travelled Sanjeev Majupuria has been to Poland, Federal Republic of Germany, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, Belgium, The Netherlands and Dubai. Contact Nos. 094250 13232 and 094256 00494 Head Honcho Speak Work comes as a natural thing for Partha S Bhattacharya, who was not only able to bring the BCCL out of the red but also has made a mark ever since he joined as Chairman of the Coal India Ltd(CIL). In this era of mobile telephony, Bhattacharya last year organized two day brain storming sessions to improve coal production and overcome difficulties being faced by coal miners. The brainstorming session was so unique that neither Coal Minister nor any of the top officials of the Indian Ministry were allowed to keep their mobile phones on. The "vichar manthan"(brainstorming) did yield nectar in the shape of many positive things. The CIL Chairman Bhattacharya is quite agile but with an attitude of modesty he is able to win hearts of all. He told <whispersinthecorridors.com> in a chat, "In order to match the future demand of Coal, CIL has planned to introduce high capacity Heavy Earth Moving Machinery in its Open cast Mines. CIL has also plans to open up large Underground Mines to meet the future coal demand from Underground Mines in a big way. This will require technology transfer from foreign countries." 1/What is the 'mantra' for your success ? Pride of belongingness to the institution, making the work enjoyable
for self and other members of the team who share a common commitment. BCCL was formed in 1971 through nationalization of Coking Coal mines. Subsequently non-coking coal mines were also nationalized and handed over to BCCL. It became a Subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL) on 1.11.1975. During the initial years after nationalization, BCCL was producing around 19 to 20 mill. tons of coal. The production increased slowly and stabilized at around 27 to 28 mill. tons in the nineties. This continued up to 1999-00 (27.90 mill. tons). Since then the production started declining sharply and reached a level of 22.68 mill. tons by 2003-04. During the 5 year period 1999-00 to 2003-04, the Company incurred an aggregate loss of Rs. 3801 crores of which around Rs. 1874.6 crores were cash losses. These cash losses led to accumulation of huge liabilities towards PF authorities, suppliers of goods and services, employees and the CISF. The continuing fall in coal production during this period aggravated the financial crisis and the Company found itself in a vicious circle. The turn around from a near bankruptcy situation was made possible through dedicated and sustained pursuit, of a revival strategy focused on enhancing production of high value coking coal and washed coal, and arresting / reversing the trend of persistent decline in coal production since 1999-2000. The need for conceiving and pursuing a revival strategy focused more on value enhancement as well as on volume of production rather than on production alone arose essentially from the fact that the high density of population, difficult mining conditions and associated legacy problem severely restrict the scope of increase in coal production. Several decisive steps were taken towards the end of FY 04 and the order of the priorities was readjusted to turn around from a near hopeless situation. In order to procure production-holding items on a fast track and subsequent payment, sufficient powers were extended to concerned Directors. Secondly, funds for investment for replacement of worn out assets were tied up with CIL even before the Revival Plan could be taken up for approval. This paved the way for infusion of new equipment in the Company in 2005-06. Procurement of HEMM was adopted as a major thrust area. To supplement the drive to improve production from departmental mines by re-vamping the existing capacity, efforts were made to obtain coal production from isolated patches by deployment of hired HEMM. The combined outcome of these measures is a reversal of the trend of decline in coal production established since 2000-01. There was a growth in coal production by around 1 mill. tons (4.4% ). In 2003-04, the break-even level of production was around 30.68 mill. tons. Achieving increase in production of such magnitude was ruled out under the given circumstances. It therefore became imperative to focus on a) increasing production of high value prime washed coking coal, and, b) unshackle the constraints in value realization, wherever possible. Accordingly efforts were made to reverse the steep decline in washed coal production witnessed during the earlier years. The decline was halted in 2004-05 and in 2005-06 the washed coal production touched 22.9 lakh tons as against 18.65 lakh tons in the previous year - an increase of 4.25 lakh tons, i.e. 22.8%. Simultaneously, a remunerative price for washed coal was arrived at bilaterally with SAIL. The Washery segment incurring losses continuously till 2003-04, managed to turn around in 2004-05 with a profit of Rs. 58.38 crores has earned a profit of Rs. 280.06 crores in 2005-06. To further unshackle the constraints on value realization, BCCL pioneered e-marketing of coal sale to non-core sector. This was commenced in 2004-05 but has matured only in 2005-06. In 2005-06 the total quantity of coal sold and lifted through e-marketing was 2.95 mill. tons and the additional revenue realized over the notified price from such sale is Rs. 195 crores. As a consequence of all the above measures, acting in tandem, the Company has earned profit of Rs.205 crores solely from operations, for the first time in its history, in 2005-06 even after absorbing the impact of revision of wages under NCWA-VII signed in July 2005. 3/What are your priorities as Coal India Chairman To match the growth rate, we need to step up production from the present level of 363 million tonnes to 521 million tons by the end of XI Plan. Incremental production has to be stepped up from 84 million tons during X Plan to 157 million tons in the XI plan period. In order to meet this formidable task the priorities are (a) Achieving quantum jump in coal production thereby narrowing demand-supply gap. (b) Issues regarding environmental pollution & its mitigation. (c) Social dislocation/disturbances & its mitigation by formulating a more acceptable Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) policy to facilitate acquisition of land for mining and integrating the same with (d) restoration of used up land to original shape by implementing a well defined land reclamation policy that envisages large scale commercial plantation or pisciculture through Cooperatives or SHGs formed out of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) (e) Intensify exploration to establish further coal reserves. (f) Infusing appropriate technology specially for UG mining, coal beneficiation, safety etc. (g) Reducing cost of production to improve competitiveness (h) Tackling competition from upcoming domestic players as well as imported coal. (i) Beneficiating non-coking coal on a substantially larger scale & supplying quality coal as per buyers' choice. (j) Adopting safe mining practices with reduction in accident rate. (k) Adopting clean coal technologies-UG/SURFACE gasification of Coal, CBM, CMM, AMM, liquefaction of coal (l) Acquiring overseas mining stakes. etc. We cannot achieve this high growth alone and will have to download the challenge to technology providers and equipment suppliers. I am happy that the country has created a lot of equipment manufacturing capacity. It is good that the mining equipment industry in India is developing with quite a number of manufacturers operating and I am confident that they shall be able to deliver what they are expected in the years to come. 4/How do you foresee coal scenario in India when PSU majors like NTPC and SAIL are still importing coal? India produced 618 billion units of power during 2005-06 of which generation
through coal was 405 Billion units which clearly defines the role of
coal in India's power sector. CIL has ensured that no power station
ever starves of coal and if they have faced problems it is due to reasons
other than non-availability of coal. However, since high grade coking coal for steel making is not available in abundance, importing is required to supplement the indigenous availability. 5/List three major achievements in BCCL Reversing the trend of decline in coal production, introduction of e-marketing of coal, introducing coal production with hired machines amidst stiff oppositon. 6/Demand for Ad-valorem duty on coal has been sought by many states. What is your view on this? The matter is under consideration of the Government. A committee appointed by the Planning commission is examining the present system vis-à-vis Ad-valorem. A comment at this stage shall not be proper.
The country is already self-reliant in non-coking coal segment. Nevertheless the high GDP growth rates are associated with concern of its sustainability. Well in time it was realized that incremental growth in the supply of energy is crucial for sustaining the GDP growth. Accordingly, the Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. Kirit S. Parikh, Member Planning Commission. The committee has since submitted its report and has envisaged a major role for the coal sector to meet the country's growing energy needs in future. In a way this reinforces the earlier findings of the High Powered Fuel Policy committee set up in early seventies. The coal demand as projected in the IEP document is expected to rise at an accelerated pace and in 2031-32 be within the range of 1600 million tones (least coal consumption strategy) or 2600 million tones (continuing the present trend). As compared to current consumption of 460 million tonnes per annum, this represents a CAGR of 5.11 to 7.17 %. A CAGR of 6.05% shall be required to support coal consumption @ 2000 mtpa in 2031-32. The Public Enterprises in coal sector viz. Coal India Limited (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. (SCCL) accounts for 94% of current coal production of the country. With the adoption of a liberalized policy in allotting coal blocks to end users and its development through captive mining, other players are expected to come in the coal sector sooner than later. This will compliment the effort of the PSEs in meeting coal demand of the country. As a consequence, the country is expected to remain self-reliant in respect of thermal coal for all time to come. However, coking coal requirement will have to be met through imports to a substantial extent in the foreseeable future. 8/What innovations in terms of Technology and managements are in the offing ? In order to match the future demand of Coal, CIL has planned to introduce
high capacity Heavy Earth Moving Machinery in its Open cast Mines. CIL
has also a plans to open up large Underground Mines to meet the future
coal demand from Underground Mines in a big way. This will require technology
transfer from foreign countries. At present, CIL is using the Continuous
Miner technology and Power Support Long Wall (PSLW) in some of its Mines.
Applying these technologies in general and PSLW in particular for large
scale coal production (2 to 5 MT) shall require the expertise available
in foreign countries. Besides, CIL has future plan to install coal washeries
with state-of-the-art technology which will ensure supplying good quality
of coal to its consumers. Who says India is a poor country ? Rs six crore is peanut in the UPA government . If you want a proof-enquire
from the Child and Women Welfare Department. This heavy amount is being
spent on advertisement for four days publicity beginning today. What
an achievement of Child and Women Welfare Minister Ms Renuka Chaudhry
?. Chacko is new Director of IIFT Former DGFT K T Chacko has been appointed Director of the Indian Institute
of Foreign Trade for a period of five years in the rank and Pay-scale
of Secretary in the Government of India. Chacko is 1973 batch IAS officer
of Madhya Pradesh cadre. D P Singh appointed Chairman of NIFT Former Secretary Textiles D P Singh has been appointed Chairman of
the Board of Governors of the National Institute of Fashion Technology
(NIFT).He is retired 1970 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre. Balu is annoyed If insiders are to be believed Surface Transport Minister T R Balu is annoyed with the Cabinet Secretary these days.While Minister is desperate for the change of the NHAI Chairman Pradeep Kumar ,Cabinet Secretary is opposed to this move.
It is anybody's guess that at what pace the Punjab would progress when the Chief Secretary designate Ramesh Inder Singh is dedicated only for his work.To what extent he is according priority to work can be fathomed from the fact that last week his wife could not talk to him for over 16 hours. Sanjeev Chopra returns to West Bengal Sanjeev Chopra is back to the parent West Bengal cadre after completion of inter-state deputation tenure. 1985 batch IAS officer Chopra was on deputation to the Uttaranchal Government. Vyasji to return Bihar next month Vyasji is returning to the parent Bihar cadre in the first week of April after completion of his central deputation tenure. He is 1982 batch IAS officer. Binoy Kumar assigned desk of Chatterjee Binoy Kumar has reportedly been asked to look after the desk of Gautam Chatterjee in the Ministry of Defence. He is 1983 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre. D P Singh joins GoI Devindra Pal Singh has joined the Government of India as Joint Secretary Home to look after anti-naxalite management cell. He is 1980 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
Heads are going to roll in the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI)over fiasco in Ottavio Quattrocchi case. Though, India has an extradition treaty with Artentina sine pre -Independence era, it was ratified again through a statement by the then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on floor of the Parliament in 1962. Justice Nijjar to be CJ of Kolkata High Court Justice S S Nijjar senior most judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court is being appointed Chief Justice of the Kolkata High Court. Media changes Ravindra Shah has joins S1 channel as News Head, Amarendra Pratap and Amit Arya are going from India TV to MH1, Vijay Vidrohi from Aaj Tak to Star while Sudhir Chowdhry who has left India TV is yet to decide whereto join from a couple of offers. Supriya Prasad Output Head of the Aaj Tak has gone to BAG as Director News. How Vadodara beat Bhopal Railway Electrical Locomotive Workshop, which on the recommendation of Electrical Engineering Branch of the Railway Board was to be established in Bhopal, has been shifted to Vadodara. This could happen because of bi-partisan co-operation between Narendra Modi and Ahmed Patel. The matter was kept under wraps to the extent that it did not even come up for discussion when the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister met Laloo Yadav last week. The new investment will provide 1500 jobs at a time when no new central government jobs are being created. Two Judges to be transferred ! Grapevine has it that Justice Vinay Mittal and Justice Virendra Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court are being transferred to the Madhya Pradesh High Court and J & K High Court respectively. Gafoor, Dixit and Subramanyam get posting in Maharashtra Three Maharashtra cadre IPS officers Hassan Khaja Gafoor ,K Subramanyam and P N Dixit who were on deputation to the Government of India have now been given postings.1974 batch IPS officer Hassan has been appointed ADG Training.1977 batch IPS officer Dixit has been made ADG Human Rights Commission and 1976 batch IPS officer K Subramanyam has been moved to Nagpur as Police Commissioner. Who will get importance in Punjab ? It is rumoured in the corridors of power that several IAS officers including Mssrs Darbara Singh Guru, Arun Goel, S K Sandhu, D J Bains, Gurinder Singh and P C Gupta will get important assignments during the new Badal regime. Bhagirath Prasad to be VC of Indore University Bhagirath Prasad who has sought VRS is being appointed Vice Chancellor of the Devi Ahilyabai Indore University. He is 1975 batch IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre. Dr.Kalam starts packing President Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam still has three months to go,before expiry of his term.He is understood to already started packing his reading material .As the grapevine has it he is planning to shift back to his quieter place at Khelgaon Marg in Delhi.
Chief Ministers of Congress ruled states have understandably rallied together and seeking for replacing Finance Minister P.Chidambaram.The move has been initiated following poll debacle of Congress in state assembly polls in Punjab and Uttarakhand,to show some kind of visible change in approach of the UPA Government. Sharad Pawar has his say Nationalist Congress Party(NCP)supreme.Sharad Pawar has succeeded in
getting incumbent of his choice appointed as Commissioner of Police(CP)Mumbai.
.D N Jadhav was recently, appointed new Commissioner Police, Mumbai.
He is 1973 batch IPS officer. EU bans PIA The member countries of European Union(EU)has banned flights of Pakistan International Airlines(PIA)from today while the Gulf nations may follow the suit.The ban has been clamped in view of ageing fleet of aircrafts.Flights of Air India and the Indian are under review. FORUM (The views expressed in this column are necessarily of their respective contributors. We do not own any responsibility, whatsoever, about these contributions). Please stop this kind of debate I have seen the acerbic and immature debate on IAS vs IRS on your site. Not only is it wholly unnecessarily, but the kind of language used lowers the credibility and image of your site. I believe you must have guidelines for posting comments and that you must edit/screen what is put up because as the publisher, it is your ultimate responsibility. So while a free and frank debate is fine, some niceties of civilized behaviour need to be followed. Dhiraj Mathur Pl do not use this site to create rift This is another illustrious family A few weeks back, you had talked of the illustrious "Razdan"
family in the IAS. Here is another you may want to talk about:- PCS officers are side lined Aaj Ki Aawaz Holi hia boora nahi manaana, Bharat Kumar --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Promotions in Coal sector likely Three promotions are on the anvil in the Indian Coal Sector.Mr.S.R.Upadhyaya will be promoted as Chairman cum Managing Director of the Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd(MCL) which has its headquarters in Sambalpur.At present he is Director(Technical)Western Coalfields Ltd(WCL)Nagpur .Likewise,N.K.Khanna CGM Coal Mines Planning & Development Institute Ltd(CMPDIL)Ranchi and V.K.Singh Central Coalfields Ltd(CCL) Ranchi will be promoted as Directors CMPDIL Ranchi . Civil Aviation Minister to meet officials Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel is meeting all the Functional Directors and Eds of the Air India and INDIAN on February 8 in Hotel Ashoka to discuss merger problems between the two airlines. Peter Mukherjea's new office Peter Mukherjea may not have still quit the Star India but he already
Indra Nooyi may become Chairperson of Pespsico in May India-American corporarte executive Indra Nooyi is due to become Rakesh Raicar is new Manager Airtel in Sri Lanka Airtel-the Indian telecom mjor,after acquiring telecom licence in Sri Lanka has sent its Senior CEO Naveaid I.Khan to set up its network in Colombo. Star News on cell phone Television news on cellular phones may still be a dream in India.However, the Star News will be visible soon on cellular network in Middle East and East Asia. . |
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