COMMISSIONERS

Shri B.K. Das, formerly of the Indian Administrative Service, joined the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission as Chairperson on 20th November, 2006 after retiring as the Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Karnataka. Born on 24th September 1946, Shri Das graduated from Loyola College, Chennai and completed his Masters in Economic History of Modern India from Utkal University in 1967. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1969 in the Karnataka cadre.

In an illustrious career spanning nearly 4 decades, Shri Das has made significant contributions specifically in the areas of Excise, Urban Development and Infrastructure Development in the state of Karnataka. During his tenure as Chairman of the Infrastructure Development Corporation, Karnataka, he formulated the infrastructure policy and several projects with private sector investment primarily the International Airport Project and Tadri Sea Port Project. He has played a major role in diverse fields like rural housing, infrastructure development, sericulture and census operations. He streamlined the entire system of collection of State Excise with a fully networked and integrated data management system in all the 19 districts of Karnataka. As CMD of Mysore Paper Mills Ltd, he was instrumental in turning around the company. He also contributed his skills at the Centre between 1989-94 as a Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India, Cabinet Secretariat.

Shri Das took over as the Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Karnataka on 30th July, 2005, a post which he held till 30th September, 2006.

He has attended many national and international training programmes and workshops including Programme on Investment Analysis and Management at Harvard Institute of International Development and Energy Management Programme at TERI.

Shital Kumar Jena, Commissioner

Shri Shital Kumar Jena, formerly the Director (Tariff) of OERC and immediate past Engineer-in-Chief (Electricity)-cum-Principal Chief Electrical Inspector, Orissa, joined the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission as Commissioner on 3rd December, 2003. Born on 13 April 1946, Shri Jena completed his B.Sc Engineering (Electrical) in 1967 and joined the Orissa State Service of Electrical Engineers and served under the Govt. of Orissa in Orissa State Electricity Board (OSEB) and OERC.

Between 1967-87 he was involved in the Generation, Transmission & Distribution aspects of the Power sector. From 1987 to 1995, Shri Jena worked on Commercial and Rural Electrification work in the OSEB. Then, as a Member, Metering Working Group and later as a Member, Legal & Regulating Working Group, Shri Jena was an active participant in the Power Sector Reform Project.

On 1st August 1996, Shri Jena joined the OERC as Dy. Director in charge of Engineering & Tariff setting the tone for preparation of various regulations, tariff guidelines and engineering standards and in September 1997, joined as Director (Tariff) and continued to work up to November, 2002. During this period, he also obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management from the prestigious Indira Gandhi National Open University. As the first Director (Tariff) in India, with no precedent to fall back upon, he set the pricing policy for power generators, transmission and distribution companies, giving direction to the Power Sector in Orissa in a Techno-Commercial-Legal environment. Among other duties, he also served as the Chairman of the Commission’s Grievance Redressal Forum.

Between November 2002 and December 2003, Shri Jena served as the Engineer-in-Chief-cum- Principal Chief Electrical Inspector under the Department of Energy, Govt. of Orissa. He was in charge of planning & monitoring of Rural Electrification, and in overall charge of the Electrical Inspectorate, collection of Electrical Duty, survey, investigation of micro, mini & small Hydro-Electric Projects in the entire state. He also chaired the State Technical Committee with power to grant Techno-Economic Clearance for projects.

He brings his expertise as a Power Engineer with his solid field experience in the erstwhile OSEB along with his pioneering work in the OERC and hands-on knowledge of Power Sector Reform and training in Regulatory Economics & Economic Reform.

Krushna Chandra Badu, Commissioner

Shir K. C. Badu, IAS (retired voluntarily on 31.3.2007) formerly Special Secretary to Govt., Finance Department, Orissa, joined the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission on 4th April, 2007. Born on 18th July, 1947, Shri Badu has done Masters Degree in Chemistry.

He joined the Orissa Finance Service (Senior Branch) in 1974 and worked in different capacities such as Treasury Officer, Commercial Tax Officer and Financial Adviser before getting selected to I.A.S. in 1994. He was posted as Collector and District Magistrate, Boudh from 8.5.1995 to 7.8.1996 and Director, Fisheries from August to December 1996. He became Member Secretary, Orissa State Finance Commission on 01.01.1997. In October 1997, he became Additional Secretary, Department of Finance and on 01.09.2004, he assumed the Office of Commissioner-cum-Special Secretary, Department of Finance, Govt. of Orissa on promotion to suppertime scale of pay in IAS. He was also kept in overall charge of finance department w.e.f. 1.4.2006 to 30.6.2006.

During his illustrious career he had marked his presence felt wherever posted in different capacities. In the Finance Department of Govt. of Orissa he has dealt with various financial and developmental issues of Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Plans. Besides this, he has taken up the State’s case for projection before the Tenth, Eleventh an Twelfth Finance Commissions. Because of his persistent efforts Orissa could get a favourable dispensation from the Twelfth Finance Commission.

He had made substantial contribution to the formulation and implementation of policies involving State Finances, Public Enterprises Reform and Power Sector Reform. He was instrumental in publishing White Paper on Orissa State Finances in March 2001 outlining various policies on Fiscal Restructuring. Orissa budget at a glance published annually is the brain work of Shri Badu and has been appreciated by RBI, different funding agencies etc. and now being adopted as model by other states.

Under his able stewardship and guidance and with the support from others the revenue deficit of the State has been reduced from Rs.2574.19 crore in 1999-2000 to Rs.522.30 crore in 2004-05. In fact, Orissa has been converted to a revenue surplus state with revenue surplus of Rs.481.19 crore in 2005-06 after a gap of more than 22 years. Addition of net loan on yearly basis and interest payment as percentage of revenue receipt are now on the declining path. There is more fiscal space now for undertaking development.

Shri Badu has substantially contributed to the turning around of the Orissa’s Finances which were characterized, in the past, by high revenue and fiscal deficit, rising debt burden and consequently limited resources for the development activities. He was instrumental in restructuring the State Finances and overcoming the financial crisis of the State.

He has attended many national and international training programmes and workshops including Performance Audit sponsored by Commonwealth at Lahore and World Bank conference on Fiscal Responsibility and Inter-governmental Finance in India at ASCI, Hyderabad. He played a crucial role in finalizing the agreement with World Bank and Govt. of India for sanction of performance linked assistance under the Orissa Socio- Economic Development Loan/Credit – (Structural Adjustment Loan – SAL)

Former Commissioners