PESB recommends SS Narsing Rao for CIL's top slot

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) today recommended Singareni Collieries Company's Chairman and Managing Director SS Narsing Rao, IAS, for the top position of Coal India (CIL), the world's largest coal producer.

The search-cum-selection committee of PESB interviewed 19 aspirants including heads of a clutch of state-run firms and CIL's Director (Personnel) R Mohan Das. According to information available on PESB website, Rao was found most suitable.

An 1986-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh Cadre, Rao is heading Singareni Collieries since 2006.

Following the recommendation of the PESB, Coal Ministry would refer its choice to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, which have the final say on the appointment.

Rao would have to face lots of challenges in the face of growing demands for coal in the country, which is grappling with a severe coal crunch amid a widening demand-supply deficit. The gap is pegged at 142 million tonne this fiscal and is likely to increase to 200 million tonne by 2016-17.

CIL, on the other hand, is battling to augment production amid regulatory and other hurdles.

CIL is now headed by Zohra Chatterji, an additional secretary in the Coal Ministry. She assumed the charge of CMD with effect from February 1, 2012 following the retirement of NC Jha.