Oil regulatory board awaits PMO nod

NEW DELHI: More than a year after Parliament approved the setting up of an oil regulator, the monitoring body has not come into existence in the absence of clearance for selected personnel by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Petroleum Ministry sources said pending PMO approval, key regulatory issues concerning downstream oil refining and fuel retailing and natural gas distribution are on hold.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board was notified in March last year and a Search Committee constituted to select chairman and four members. The Committee selected former bureaucrat Labanyendu Mansingh as chairman and the ministry sent hname along with that of four other members to the PMO on February 23 this year.

Sources said the names of chairman and members were sent to the PMO after being cleared by concerned agencies.

Proposals for laying new gas pipelines have not been approved by the ministry as it had decided to let the regulator look into the issue, but with approval not coming for over three months now, investing firms are fidgety.

PMO officials could not be immediately contacted for comments.

Mansingh, who retired as the secretary in the department of consumer affairs, food and public distribution on October 31, 2006, is a post-graduate in political science.

Other members included L K Singhvi, former chief commissioner of Income Tax in Delhi, B S Negi, former director (business development), GAIL and Sudha Mahalingam, who is currently working with Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Contemporary Studies, Museum and Library. Y P C Dangay was recommended as legal member on the board.