Government denies extension to ONGC CMD Subir Raha

New Delhi, May 24 (UNI) The Government declined to give any extension to Mr Subir Raha, terminating his tenure as the Chairman and Managing Director of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the country's largest oil PSU, from today.

According to Petroleum Ministry sources, the refusal came in the wake of negative remarks made by the former Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer and former Petroleum Secretary S C Tripathi on his performance, and the T N R Rao Committee Report on the fire at a facility in the company's Mumbai High Field last year.

Significantly, the Petroleum Ministry had sought the comments of Mr Aiyer on Mr Raha's performance.

Mr Aiyer, in a one-page note, criticised Mr Raha for 'insubordination and indiscipline' and not adding to the oil reserves of the company. He went on to saying that Mr Raha had converted ONGC into a one-man show as he was not a team player.

However, the present Petroelum Secretary M S Srinivasan in his report has recommended to grant an immediate extension for a period of three months.

The sources revealed that the Ministry might ask R S Sharma, Director (Finance), ONGC or Anil Razdan- Additional Secretary in the Petroleum Ministry to officiate as acting CMD till a final and permanent appointment is made.

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