S Krishnan to be new PNGRB chairman

Former fertiliser secretary S Krishnan is likely to be the new chairman of oil regulator Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

A search committee headed by Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi shortlisted Krishnan as its number one choice to head the PNGRB when the incumbent Labanyendu Mansingh retires on October 11, 2011, sources privy to the development said.

Indian Oil Corp (IOC) Director (Pipelines) K K Jha was selected to be PNGRB member (Technical). The incumbent B S Negi retires on October 27 after attaining the superannuation age of 65 years.

Sources said the recommendation of the search committee will be sent to the Cabinet Committee on Appointment (ACC) for vetting and final appointment.

Krishnan, 1975 batch IAS officer, retired as Fertiliser Secretary on August 31, 2010.

Earlier this month, the search committee selected Pradip Kumar Bishnoi, the Chairman and Managing Director of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (popularly known as Vizag Steel), for the position of PNGRB Member (Commercial).

While Jha is due to retire from IOC on January 1, 2012, Bishnoi is to retire from service at Vizag Steel in July-end on attaining superannuation at the age of 60 years.

Sources said the post of Member (Commercial) of the PNGRB has been lying vacant since November 17, 2010, and the committee had selected B M Bansal, the then acting Chairman of IOC, from among those who had applied for the job. But in January this year, he suddenly declined the offer without citing any reason.

On May 12, the Supreme Court directed the government to fill the vacancy within four weeks.

The Oil Ministry had also issued an advertisement calling for applications to fill the post of chairman when the incumbent, Labanyendu Mansingh, retires on October 11, 2011, on attaining the age of 65 years.

In the same advertisement, it called for applications for the post of Member (Technical/Infrastructure) on the board to replace B S Negi when he retires on October 27, 2011.

"The chairperson and members would be entitled to a monthly consolidated pay package of Rs 300,000 (without house and car) and Rs 250,000 (without house and car), respectively," the advertisements said.

Persons of not more than 62 years of age as on January 1, 2012, could apply for the jobs.

Besides the chairperson, the PNGRB has four members -- Member (Infrastructure), Member (Distribution), Member (Legal) and Member (Commercial).

Sudha Mahalingam is currently the Member (Distribution) and Y P C Dangay is the Member (Legal).