NMDC awaits new chairman after Narendra Kothari's retirement

HYDERABAD: The Centre is yet to appoint a new head for the country's largest iron ore miner NMDC Limited after its Chairman-cum-Managing Director ( CMD) Narendra Kothari retired on December 31.

According to sources, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has still not given its nod to Gopal Singh, who was recommended by the Public Enterprises Selection Board ( PSEB) for the post of CMD in June.

"There is no communication from the Ministry of Steel or from the government on either the appointment of Gopal Singh or entrusting charge (of CMD) to any other official.

"Though there is no impact on the day-to-day work at the organisation, it can't go (like this) for long time as certain decisions are taken at only CMD level," sources told PTI.

Gopal Singh has been heading Central Coalfields (CCL) since March 2012. Born in 1961, he graduated from the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, in 1981 and started his professional career as mining engineer at Rajrappa area, CCL, according to the company website.

Sources also said that the post of Director (Personnel) at NMDC is also vacant for the past six months and there has been no communique from the government.

"Though the PSEB has recommended Sandeep Tula's name for the post of Director (Personnel) almost six months ago, there has been no word on his appointment so far from the government," they added.

Tula is currently with NMDC as executive director of personnel and administration.

According to NMDC's website, the post of Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) has also fell vacant.

A senior official of the PSU said the position of CVO is lying vacant after Usha Chandrasekharan, an Indian Postal Services officer, left the organisation to join her parent cadre in August last year.

Meanwhile, quoting Department of Personnel and Training ( DoPT) guidelines, a senior government official said whenever a CMD post falls vacant, the senior-most director of the board may be given charge.