Hydropower maverick

Balraj Joshi takes over as new CMD of NHPC Limited
Shri Balraj Joshi has taken over as the new chairman and managing director of NHPC Limited on September 22, 2017. Before that, he was director (technical) with NHPC. Joshi holds a degree in civil engineering from Government Engineering College, Karad, Maharashtra. He holds PG qualification in hydropower development and planning from the Norwegian Technical Institute in Trondheim.

Joshi joined NHPC in 1982 at a probationary executive (engg.) at the 690-MW Salal project in Jammu & Kashmir. During his time with NHPC, Joshi worked on many hydro projects, including Dul Hasti, Kurichu (in Bhutan), Teesta-V, Teesta Low Dam-III and Teesta Low Dam-IV, Parbati-III, Chutak, Chamera-III and Parbati-II. He has also been associated with NHPC's consultancy assignments for several projects, including 1,200-MW Tamanthi and 800-MW Shwezaye in Myanmar.

He has represented NHPC at the International Court of Arbitration for the 330-MW Kishanganga project and recently participated in government-level meetings in Washington, D.C., on the issues of the Indus Water Treaty.