Balyan extension expected shortly
ONGC director human resources AK Balyan will soon receive a formal letter allowing him to remain in his job until retirement at 60 in 2011.
Normally Balyan would have stepped down on (Saturday) August 23 when his five year term ends. PETROWATCH learns on August 18, Balyan’s â€کfile’ was with oil ministry additional secretary S.
Sundareshan before going to oil minister Murli Deora for final â€کapproval’. ONGC chairman RS Sharma tells us he foresees no more hurdles to Balyan’s path.
“I checked up this morning and was told the file has been cleared,†said Sharma. After clearance by the oil ministry, the file must be cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
On March 5, the Public Enterprises Selection Board interviewed Balyan and recommended his extension. But doubts about the move surfaced after the oil ministry began an inquiry into his role in awarding a housekeeping contract without tender.