Murmurs of protest as Adani Gas transfers staff

Vol 22, PW 15 (16 May 19) People & Policy

Alongside a major recruitment drive, BSE-listed Adani Gas has begun restructuring to accelerate work on areas won in CGD-IX and CGD-X.

This is upsetting staff reluctant to be transferred from their comfortable homes in Ahmedabad to far-flung areas across the country. Last month (April) Adani appointed three heads to supervise different areas: Ahmedabad-based assistant vice-president (operations and maintenance - CNG marketing) YS Navathe has been appointed to look after Gujarat and Rajasthan; vice-president operations RB Singh has been appointed to look after southern and eastern India and will relocate from Ahmedabad to Udupi in Karnataka, best known for its vegetarian cuisine; senior vice-president (gas business) Peeyush Tripathi has been appointed to look after northern and central India and will be based near Delhi in Faridabad, the second-most polluted city in the world, according to the World Health Organisation.

Suresh Manglani, who joined Adani Gas as CEO in September 2018, has visited some of the areas won in CGD-IX and CGD-X and is believed to be unhappy with the slow progress. "After his visit he decided to appoint new heads and general managers to expedite work," reveals a source.

Adani has transfered 30-40 people from its Ahmedabad office. "They are not happy," adds our source.

"People living in Ahmedabad for 15 years are being asked to go to remote locations. Lots of them are in protest mode and don't want to go."

Manglani has warned that he no longer wants to see people who have received transfer orders sitting in the Ahmedabad office. “Some people have started looking for other career options," we hear. "They don't want to leave their comfort zone.” Adani holds 18 retails licences: 13 from CGD-IX, two from CGD-X and three from earlier rounds. "Work is slow,” admits a source. “Pipes, fittings, valves and meters to begin work are not available. In some areas we don't even have a 'tap-off' to draw gas." Udaipur (won under CGD-IX) is cited as an example. "There is no gas connectivity," we hear. "The nearest 'tap-off' is at Chittorgarh.” Manglani however is determined to supply first gas to Udaipur by October. Adani is simultaneously hiring 500 new recruits to work at CGD-IX and CGD-X areas among them general managers in Mumbai, Delhi, Faridabad and Hyderabad. "At least 10-12 new general managers are needed,” we hear. Delhi-based recruitment consultant Praaxis has been drafted in to help.

Murmurs of protest as Adani Gas transfers staff

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