The Hindu Business Line : Former bureaucrats in PowerGrid panel opposed

CAN bureaucrats who held positions in Vigilance Commission and the Central Bureau of Investigation take up assignment with public sector undertakings (PSU) post-retirement?

The recent communication by the Chairman and Managing Director of the Power Grid Corporation of India, Mr R.P. Singh, proposing the setting up of a committee consisting of such ex-bureaucrats to advise the company on various issues has been opposed by the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

The corporation has constituted a committee under the Chairmanship of Mr N. Vittal, Ex-Central Vigilance Commissioner with Dr Trinath Mishra, Ex-Director, CBI, Mr J.S. Mathur, Ex-Deputy CAG and Chairman, Audit Board, Mr P.S. Bami, Ex-CMD, NTPC, with a financial management expert from Management Development Institute and an expert from IIT, Delhi, in civil/power system area, as members did not find favour with the CVC and the CAG. Sources in the Government told Business Line here that they have forwarded their reservations in this regard to the Cabinet Secretary, expressing their views.

PowerGrid, set up in 1992-93, has grown from Rs 3,500 crore to Rs 20,000 crore over a decade. It has an ambitious plan to undertake a further investment of over Rs 50,000 crore in the next decade. In order to supplement its efforts, additional investment of Rs 20,000 crore is also envisaged from the private sector. Though for such a huge investment, transparency in all areas needs to be ensured with the adoption of its "Works and Procurement Policy & Procedures". The terms of the proposed committee and the rider that the issues/complaints, which are required to be referred to the committee, would require written approval of CMD were construed as contravening the extant powers being enjoyed by CVC and CAG.

For instance, one of the committee's terms speaks of "study of audit paras/quieries/complaints/issues as may be referred to the committee pertaining to procurement, project execution and financial aspects raised by external agencies, i.e., auditors, other agencies".

Moreover, the sources said that those who monitored vigilance issues in PSUs and those who were at the helm of such PSUs should not agree to be party post-retirement to advice on various issues related "with procurement, project execution and financial aspects".

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