Retired IAS officer Upendra Nath Behera on Monday took over as the new Chairman of the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC).
Behera was administered oath of office by Governor SC Jamir at the Raj Bhavan here in the presence of several senior bureaucrats.
Behera, who was Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was to superannuate from services in July, 2017, but he applied for VRS, which was accepted by the Government.
Behera had earlier been recommended as OERC Chairman on the recommendation of the Selection Committee headed by Orissa High Court’ Justice Vinod Prasad. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on October 27 last accepted the recommendation and appointed him as OERC Chairman and Souri Kanta Parhi, former Air Vice-Marshal as an OERC Member.
The OERC chief post was lying vacant as the previous incumbent Satya Prakash Nanda’s tenure ended on October 8. Parhi has already taken over a Member.