The Ministry of Power has approved a panel of 20 experts to serve as “Independent Engineers” (IEs) for the resolution of contractual disputes in hydro power projects. The panel, which includes former senior executives from NHPC, NEEPCO, NTPC, SJVN, and THDC, is part of the Ministry’s “Dispute Avoidance Mechanism” for projects executed by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under its administrative control.
The formation of this panel follows the Ministry’s Office Memorandum (O.M.) dated September 27, 2021, which introduced the dispute avoidance mechanism, and a subsequent O.M. on June 16, 2025, which invited Expressions of Interest from eligible candidates.
The list of approved experts includes:
- Shri Raj Kumar Choudhary, CMD, NHPC
- Shri Ranendra Sarma, Director, NEEPCO
- Shri Avnish Srivastava, ED, NTPC
- Shri Harish Kumar Sharma, ED, SJVN
- Shri S.S. Adhikari, ED, NEEPCO
- A total of 12 former Executive Directors from NHPC.
The Independent Engineers will be chosen based on their background and relevant experience. All other terms and conditions of their engagement will be governed by the Ministry’s previous O.M.s on this subject. This initiative aims to provide a proactive and efficient mechanism for resolving contractual issues, thereby reducing delays and ensuring the smooth execution of hydro power projects.