Ex-Mecon chairman AK Tyagi to join PNGRB
Finally there is hope that work will revive at the nearly defunct PNGRB as the ministry is rumoured to have selected former MECON chairman and managing director Ashok Kumar Tyagi as member pipelines.
A source close to the PNGRB says four applications were received for the member pipelines post, including Tyagi's and he is expected to be appointed sometime this month (April). When contacted, Tyagi confirmed he had applied by the December 26, 2016 deadline.
"I can only tell you that I applied," he says. "But so far (by April 4) I have not received any confirmation of my appointment from the oil ministry." Tyagi also refused to comment on his possible joining date, saying he first needs confirmation that he has indeed been appointed.
Previous member pipelines KK Jha retired from the PNGRB on January 6 this year. Earlier on December 17, 2016, member legal Subhash Chandra Batra retired.
There is now talk that oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan wants to hire a retired judge as the next member legal within a month. The sooner a member legal and member pipelines are appointed the better.
Work has come to a halt at the PNGRB since January. "With no chairman since August 2015 and no members the show was run by just one member Basudev Mohanty," says a gas retailer.
"It's good news if Tyagi has been selected. We can then expect some action soon."