Sutirtha Bhattacharya takes over as Chairman of Coal India Limited

Odisha Sun Times Business Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 6:

Sutirtha Bhattacharya, a Telangana Cadre IAS officer of 1985 batch, formally assumed the charge as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the coal mining monolith Coal India Limited (CIL) yesterday.

Soon after assuming charge, Bhattacharya had a meeting with the directors of the company and a video conference with the CMDs of the subsidiary coal companies on the pressing issues and priorities of the company.

Prioritizing his immediate goals, Bhattacharya said, “Ramping up coal production and importantly increasing coal supplies are immediate focus areas. We would be diligently following the setting up of three important railways lines in the states of Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Odisha which would help in unlocking huge coal reserves and increasing coal supplies.”

“Coal India plays a pivotal role in the country’s energy scenario apart from having a significant economic and social presence. To lead such a company is a privilege and I look forward to meeting the challenge with help and support from all strata of the employees,” he said.

Speaking of Coal India role as a corporate citizen, Bhattacharya said that the coal behemoth is actively pursuing the ‘Swachh Bharat’ initiative announced by the government recently, by providing hygienic sanitation in schools and in the households of the underprivileged by constructing individual toilet facilities.

“To connect with the employees is an important management function and the welfare of the employees is a priority concern of the company. Employee welfare amenities like proper housing, sanitation, health educational facilities would receive high importance,” Bhattacharya added.

A Physics Graduate from Presidency College, Kolkata Bhattacharya has vast and varied experience across different government sectors and positions. He was collector and District Magistrate of Prakasham District. As Principal Secretary (Energy), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Bhattacharya’s prime concern was to ensure quality power supply at reasonable price to all consumers in the state. He was CMD of the Telangana based Singareni Collieries Company Limited since May 10, 2012 before being nominated as the chairman of CIL.

Bhattacharya took up the mantle of CIL from A K Dubey, Additional Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Coal, who was also holding additional charge as Chairman CIL since June 26, 2014.