April 25 : The challenges of the Indian power sector need little explanation. But the government may have to, perhaps, explain the goings-on at the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the nation’s apex think tank for policy-making in this vital sector. According to sources, the elevation of Gurdial
Singh, a member, as officiating chairman has led to a virtual revolt by some of his colleagues. Mr Singh was apparently given the additional charge following the retirement of chairman Rakesh Nath, who has moved on to the Appellate Tribunal of Electricity as a member. Meanwhile, in protest against Mr Singh’s elevation, if even temporary, member (power), V. Ramakrishna, one of four serving members of CEA, has proceeded on leave.
However, babus at the power ministry say that Mr Ramakrishna’s claim to the top post is weak since he is a few months away from retirement. But sources say that while Mr Singh’s appointment as temporary chairman of CEA may have triggered off the current crisis, it is by no means the only issue affecting the functioning of the authority.
CEA is already suffering from an acute staff crunch. Sources say that some 170 positions are unfilled, mostly of a technical nature. There seems to be little movement on filling these vacancies. And with open dissent at the top, the authority is likely to face troubled times ahead, which spells trouble for many an infrastructural projects in the all-important power sector.

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Land grabbing
A senior Punjab Police cop investigating a land grab case in Mohali, near Chandigarh, has reported to the state high court that the transfer of 500 acres of land by the Mohali deputy commissioner to netas and babus is illegal. The court had directed additional director-general of police Chander Shekhar to inquire into allegations that around 500 acres of gram panchayat land had been transferred illegally to influential netas and babus.
A similar case of land grab has been reported in Gujarat where top babus and cops have allegedly usurped a piece of land belonging to the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) and built a posh residential retreat for themselves complete with a golf course and an ayurvedic spa. This land worth Rs 400 crores was given to the SSNNL on a 15-year lease in 1993 for afforestation. A petition has now been filed against joint managing director of the SSNNL, K. Srinivas, an Indian Administrative Service officer, for changing revenue records in collusion with revenue officials. But knowing how the legal system works it remains to be seen whether the “influential” babus and netas involved will actually get their “just deserves”.
By Dilip Cherian