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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. Mathur to be Member Railway Board Vinoo Narain Mathur, General Manager, Northern Railway is likely to
be promoted as Member (Traffic), Railway Board and ex-officio Secretary
to Government of India. He is from 1971 batch of Indian Railway Traffic
Service. The appointment has been cleared by ACC and the orders are
likely to be issued by the end of this month. Justice Bali to take charge today Justice V K Bali is taking over as new Chairman of the Central Administrative
Tribunal (CAT). Post of Secretary in PMO to be filled up Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scouting for such an IAS officer,
to be appointed as Secretary in the PMO, who has Finance background.
This post has been lying vacant ever since Manmohan Singh assumed office
in 2004. Sinha to succeed Gupta in Washington Sanjay Sinha will succeed A K Gupta in Washington embassy . He is 1978 batch IPS officer of Manipur-Tripura cadre. Name of Sinha has been approved. Vishvaranjan not retiring ? Chhattisgarh cadre 1973 batch IPS official, Vishvaranjan, is not retiring
on April 1 as expected. The government is convinced that there was a
mistake in his age certificate and he is actually 1952 born and not
1947. He is presently with the IB. Who is perceived to be the least important Head of Department in the State Government? A survey by Whispers reveals, it is the Controller of Weights and Measures even below Controller of Stationery and Printing and Registrar of Firms and Societies. The Planning Commission is likely to raise allocations in this field to about ten times of that in the previous plans. Government of India has appointed a committee of State Government officials headed by Principal Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Madhya Pradesh, Dr Anand Asthana to suggest measures to strengthen metrology organisation and implement new law on the anvil. Customs officer to be OSD to Khanduri Senior Customs officer Mangain is all set to become OSD to new Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri. AICC man to head CARA AICC man J K Mittal will now head the committee of CARA in the Government of India. This body deals with the adoption cases. Who got Mittal appointed ?. Ramesh Inder Singh appointed CS of Punjab Ramesh Inder Singh has been appointed new Chief Secretary of Punjab.
He is 1974 batch IAS officer. Brar to be PS to Badal S S Brar is being appointed Principal Secretary to Punjab Chief Minister P S Badal. He is 1977 batch IAS officer. Virk proceeds on leave Former DGP of Punjab S S Virk has proceeded on long leave. West Bengal cadre IAS to be SS to Badal West Bengal cadre 1993 batch IAS officer Kanwal Jeet Singh Cheema will be Special Secretary to Punjab Chief Minister P S Badal. Former Foreign Secretary to head NDI Former Foreign Secretary Salman Haidar has been appointed Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Designing Institute. He is retired 1960 batch IFS officer. Major IAS and IPS reshuffle on cards in Punjab A major IAS and IPS reshuffle is going to take place in Punjab in a
couple of weeks. Group 18, which among other things owns TV 18, is going raise Two billion
rupees through rights issue to meet its expansion plans. Justice Nijjar is CJ of Calcutta High Court Justice S S Nijjar has been appointed new Chief Justice of the Calcutta
High Court. IAS changes in Gujarat There is IAS reshuffle in Gujarat. New postings are :-Mssrs N P Thakur
Development Officer Dahod District,N J Shah Development Officer Ahemdabad,B
C Chaudhry Member-Secretary Mahila Ayog,A S Mewada Deputy Secretary
Health and J R Modi Joint Secretary Food. Lakhan Pal shifted to VAT Commission Chief secretary during the Congress regime in Punjab K. R. Lakhanpal
has been designated Chairman of the VAT Commission. He is 1972 batch
IAS officer. Retired Gujarat IPS officer joins NGO The former Gujarat Additional Director-General of Police 1971batch retired IPS officer R.B. Sreekumar has joined Mumbai based NGO, citizens for Justice and Peace FORUM (The views expressed in this column are necessarily of their respective contributors. We do not own any responsibility, whatsoever, about these contributions). President is a man of principle A man of principle. I admired him . He did not want extension or continue
to be President though he could easily get it. Why not our bureaucrats
follow him. Most of them retired still want extension and top of it
still want to continue in other top post. There should be a limit to
all. Let the others who are waiting get their chances too, not the same
guys just because some body on top helps them. We should avoid this controversy Let us not enter into controversy of IAS Vs IRS. Instead we should
do something good for the betterment of our nation for which we are
committed to specially while in service. Let there be exchange of officers
between IAS and IRS so ss to enable them to establish their worth. Some
25 IRS should be given the job which IAS has been doing e.g. Commissioner
Commercial Tax, Commissioner State Excise, IG registration, Member Finance
of state undertakings, Managing Direcdor of State Finance Corporations
and industrial Development Corporations, Finance Department of state
governments etc. Similarly some 25 IAS officers should be assigned job
in department of revenue. Let them establish as superior officer. Forum is not working Forum is not working. So my comment here. At heart of the acrimonious
debate and rivalry about inter service competence is question of ability
and suitability for posts at all levels and not just at one stage in
life at entry to service. If jobs at all level were contractual with
access allowed to all including those from private sector, with independent
and professional recruiters, heart burning would reduce and governance
improve. That the highest rank holders in universities or IIM/IIT do
not often remain the best at later points in career should not be forgotten May God bless Ramesh Inder Singh Ramesh Inder Singh is very nice, gentle, honest, intelligent and very
hard-working officer. Punjab government should feel proud of such officers
with it. May God bless him with healthy long life with all the achievements
in his box. Aaj Ki Aawaz Olaf Palme, Rajiv Gandhi, Maritn Abdo, Bhatnagar, Sundarji, Win
Chadha are all dead, Bharat Kumar --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neol likely to head Tatasons Industrial tycoon Ratan Tata is understood to have more or less made up his mind to ask his close relative Neol Tata to succeed him as Chairman of the Tatasons. Search Committee set up for ONGC Chief A Search Committee headed by the PESB Chairman N K Sinha has been set up to scrutinize candidates for appointment as CMD of the ONGC. Pankaj Shrivastava to return in April Regional Director of INDIAN in Dubai Pankaj Shrivastava will join the headquarters in April. Seth is Deputy MD of SIDBI Basant Seth has taken over as Deputy MD of the Small Industries Development Bank of India SIDBI. Wadhwa is CEO of NDPL Paliwal on Titan Board ED of the TamilNadu Industrial Development Corporation Sunil Paliwal
has been nominated on the Board of Titan Industries. He is 1993 batch
IAS officer. Two new Directors of S Kumars Vijay Kalantri and Jyoti N Kasliwal have been appointed Directors of the S Kumars. |
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