Surprise applications for PNGRB member
Applications are in, but there is still likely to be a long wait before a fourth member joins the PNGRB.
By November 10 (2023), the oil ministry received up to four applications from ONGC candidates and three from GAIL and IndianOil. Among the candidates who have applied from IndianOil are refineries director Sukla Mistry, who retires on April 30 (2024); Arvind Kumar, a former ED who was also an additional advisor at the PNGRB for more than five years; and SK Jha, executive director CGD projects, based in Noida.
"Kumar has retired from IndianOil and joined as the CEO of Vimal Fire Controls, a fire safety company based in Mumbai," we learn. GAIL candidates include MV Iyer, former director of business development, who retired on October 31 (2023).
A source stresses, however, that the oil ministry will most likely avoid selecting another GAIL candidate because two current PNGRB members are already from GAIL. "Preference will be given to candidates from other companies to create a balance at the PNGRB," we hear.
ONGC candidates include the current finance director, Pomila Jaspal, who has also applied. Oil ministry officials were forced to publish a fresh advertisement after the ACC rejected DS Nanaware's candidature for the fourth member role at PNGRB in July (2023).
On September 27, oil ministry gas pricing section officer Mridul Pant instructed that a fresh vacancy notice be published. Over three years have passed since the last member infrastructure, Satchidananda Rath, retired on May 18 (2020).
At present, the PNGRB is functioning with just former oil and coal ministry bureaucrat AK Jain as its chairman and two members, Gajendra Singh and AK Tiwari, both former GAIL directors, after the untimely death of member legal AK Pande on September 26 (2023). Even if the oil ministry selects a fourth member promptly, CVC and ACC approvals aren't expected anytime soon.
And with nationwide parliamentary elections in April-May 2024 providing a further distraction, don't expect this to be a speedy appointment.