By IANS,
Chennai : Top level changes took place Friday at India’s two nuclear power operators – Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (Bhavini) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), following the retirement the day before of NPCIL chairman and managing director (CMD) S.K.Jain.
Prabhat Kumar, till recently Director (Construction) and Project Director (Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor-PFBR) has been re-designated as Bhavini’s CMD. He will function as acting CMD till further orders from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
Bhavini is constructing India’s own 500 MW fast breeder reactor at Kalpakkam around 80 km from here. Two more fast reactors are being planned at the same location.
Ever since Bhavini was incorporated in 2003, the CMD of NPCIL doubled up as the CMD of the former.
But this time, there has been a change in the practice.
Meanwhile at NPCIL, S. Bhardwaj, Director (Technical) took charge as CMD Thursday and he will also be the company’s acting CMD till further orders from DAE.
However, unlike at Bhavini, the CMD’s post at NPCIL will not be bifurcated and the government will maintain the current set up, officials told IANS preferring anonymity.
Officials said the government is considering various names for the CMD post at NPCIL and a decision may soon be expected.
Meanwhile, a series of top level retirements are expected at NPCIL during this year, including a couple of executive directors and followed by Bhardwaj.
“There will not be any sudden vacuum at the top since we have a good succession plan,” Bhardwaj told IANS.