The Government has issued appointment letters of CMDs at Coal India’s subsidiaries, ending months of uncertainty at these companies.

The process began before the Narendra Modi Government assumed office. Selections were also over months ago. But the appointment letters were issued by the Government in the last couple of days.

Om Prakash, director (technical-operations) of Nagpur-based Western Coalfields, is the new CMD of Bilaspur-based South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL). His appointment was pending for nearly a year.

SECL had been without a full-time chairman for nearly four years now, ever since the former CMD, MP Dixit, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation, in May 2010, for accepting graft.

The appointment of Prakash will relieve N Kumar, director (technical) of parent Coal India, from the additional charge of CMD at SECL.

In a separate move, TK Nag, director (technical) of Ranchi-based Central Coalfields, was named the new CMD of Northern Coalfields.

Similar to SECL, the former Northern Coalfields chairman, too, was accused of malpractices nearly three years ago. The former Congress-led UPA Government dithered over prosecution, leading to a stalemate at the top.

The third appointment was of RR Mishra as chairman of Western Coalfields. Mishra was the director (personnel) in Central Coalfields Ltd.

The top position in Western Coalfields was vacant since June this year when chairman DC Garg died out of a heart attack.

Hunt for CIL CMD

Meanwhile, the Government has started hunting for the CMD of Coal India. Additional Coal Secretary AK Dubey will lead the efforts to find the new chief.

The position is lying vacant since S Narsing Rao decided to quit the office to rejoin the administrative services in Telengana in June. On September 29, the Public Enterprises Selection Board issued an advertisement to attract CEO, CMD, President or Director of private sector companies with a turnover of over ₹5,000 crore a year. The total cost-to-company (including accommodation and cars) works out to ₹75 lakh a year, which is lower than the average salary in such position in the private sector.

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