Author: sdhakad

Mr. R.K. Jha has an extensive background in the oil industry, with a career spanning 35 years focused on refinery operations and environmental management. He recently served as the Executive Director and Refinery Head of the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. at the Barauni Refinery in Bihar from 2022 to 2023. Before this role, he held several key positions at the same refinery, including Chief General Manager (TS & HSE) from 2019 to 2021, Chief General Manager (Technical) from 2018 to 2019, and General Manager (Production) from 2014 to 2018. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Consulting Engineer for the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) from 1987 to 1988.

Throughout his career, Mr. Jha has been dedicated to environmental and safety management, leading initiatives to promote green credit programs and achieve carbon emission reduction goals. He is known for his strategic planning, the integration of innovative technologies, and his inclusive approach to engaging with stakeholders.

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Dr. Somnath Mukherjee obtained PhD from IIT, Bombay on Environment from Civil Engineering Department in 1981. He worked as Executive Director, AECOM, a fortune 500 company, and one of the largest consultancy firms in the world with turnover of more than 22 billion USD. Before joining AECOM, he was Senior Vice President in IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure & Services Ltd. He was Chief of Centre of Environment in WAPCOS India Ltd. He also worked in CSIR, ONGC and NTPC. He has 36 years of professional experience and five years of research experience in the field of environment. During his professional career of 42 years, he has conducted/ headed more than 700 environmental projects for various government, private and Multilateral Financial Agencies.

He has been a member of several national and international committees including member of International Cooperation Committee of IAIA (USA) and member of Technology Evaluation Panel of Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. He was a visiting faculty of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. Dr. Mukherjee was the Indian Mission Leader for Water Security in South Asia, a project in collaboration with University of Hawaii and John Hopkins, USA. He was invited by UN as an expert on Water Resources for Bhutan. He has worked for ADB as a consultant and lenders Engineer for IFC for two years. He is the member of Technical Committee of NABET (2016-2020).

He has worked extensively on design, and implementation of Waste Management, Contamination Assessment and Remediation, Smart City projects, development of Mega Infrastructure projects, EIA and HSE projects in various countries. Have undertaken and various other environmental studies for more than 50 power project and many are funded by The World Bank. Have worked extensively on Environmental and social framework for WBG projects.

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Mr. Pankaj Kumar Satija is a graduate mining engineer from IIT(ISM), Dhanbad, and holds a PGDBM from XLRI. With over 25 years of experience, he has adeptly blended mining operations with a framework of Safety, Health, and Environment. As a PMP certified professional, Mr. Satija has enhanced his skills through the Indo-German Manager Programme in Germany, the Global Advanced Management Programme in Beijing, and the Tata Group Executive Leadership Development Program in the UK. He is also a LEAD Fellow of cohort 19 and a certified coach from Erickson Coaching International.

Currently serving as the Chief of Regulatory Affairs at Tata Steel Ltd, Mr. Satija’s expertise spans Strategic Planning, Project Management, Mine Planning, Mining Operations, Training, Production, and Maintenance. His innovative approach led to the first vetiver plantation experiment in the Indian mining industry at the Joda East mine of Tata Steel in 2012, in collaboration with IIT Kharagpur.

Mr. Satija has been an integral part of the task force for the Sustainable Development Framework for the Indian Mining Industry, constituted by the Ministry of Mines. Under his leadership, Tata Steel’s Sukinda chromite mine became the first in the country to pilot the launch of the Sustainable Development Framework (SDF) in January 2016. Additionally, he spearheaded the initiative at Noamundi, which became the first mine in India to pilot the launch of Drone Application in Mine Monitoring (DAMM) in January 2017.

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Dr. U. Sridharan is an experienced scientist and former advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MOEFCC), New Delhi. With over 15 years of dedicated service at the MOEFCC, he has a demonstrated history of contributing to sustainable development, environmental impact assessment, environmental policy, and waste management.

Dr. Sridharan holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Ornithology from the University of Mumbai. Before his tenure at the MOEFCC, he was involved in research and teaching in the fields of wetland ecology and ornithology. His strong research background and professional expertise have significantly impacted the environmental sector in India.

Mr. S.K. Pati is a highly experienced professional with extensive expertise in environmental management, energy transition, decarbonization, and sustainability. He served as the Chief of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change for India and Southeast Asia at Tata Steel. Additionally, he has been a Consulting Environmentalist and Advisor on energy transition, decarbonization, and sustainability. His expertise has also been utilized as an SME Consultant at Ernst & Young (E&Y). Mr. Pati was a member of the Board of Directors of Bhubaneswar Power Private Limited and a Consultant at Tata Consulting Engineers.

With a distinguished career spanning 37 years at Tata Steel, he held the role of Chief Environment Manager for India and Southeast Asia, where he made significant contributions to environmental management and sustainability initiatives.

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Mr. Prashant Kokil is an accomplished expert in the fields of sustainability, environment, and corporate social responsibility. He has held significant positions at The Tata Power Company Ltd., including Head of Corporate Environment and Climate Change, and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) in Mumbai. He has also served as an internal trainer for sustainability, CSR, and environment at Tata Power.

His commitment to education is demonstrated through his role as a visiting faculty member at Mumbai University’s Garware Institute of Career Education & Development (GICED), where he teaches Masters courses in Sustainable Development and Environment Management. Additionally, Mr. Kokil is a visiting assessor at the SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), focusing on CSR activities.

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Dr. D. K. Agrawal, a renowned academic and researcher, earned his M. Tech degree in 1986 and completed his Ph.D. in 1993 from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. His academic journey has been marked by a deep commitment to environmental studies and sustainability.

Recognizing his expertise and contributions, Dr. Agrawal was appointed as an Expert Member of the National Green Tribunal on May 5, 2011. This appointment underscored his significant role in shaping environmental policy and adjudicating matters crucial to environmental conservation and sustainability in India. His tenure at the National Green Tribunal has been instrumental in advancing environmental justice and promoting sustainable development practices across the country. His leadership and scholarly achievements continue to inspire and influence environmental policy and research initiatives nationally and internationally.

Mr. Raghvendra Singh Chauhan, born on 24 December 1959, is a distinguished Indian judge renowned for his expertise in criminal and service matters. He commenced his legal career as an Advocate in the Rajasthan High Court on 13 November 1983. Recognized for his legal acumen, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Rajasthan High Court on 13 June 2005, later becoming a Permanent Judge on 24 January 2008. His judicial career saw him transfer to the Karnataka High Court on 10 March 2015 and subsequently to the Telangana High Court on 8 November 2018.

His leadership and judicial integrity were further acknowledged when he assumed the role of Acting Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court on 3 April 2019, followed by his appointment as Chief Justice on 22 June 2019. Continuing his esteemed career, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court on 31 December 2020 and took oath on 7 January 2021, marking another significant chapter in his judicial service.