Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission, Devendra kumar Sharma has been elected as Chairman of Asia Pacific Group of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) in a meeting held at Marseille, France on 28th May,2022 during the 90th Annual General Body Meeting and 27th Congress of ICOLD. Asia Pacific Group has 28 member countries including India.
These countries work together for exchange of the knowledge in the field of planning, design, construction and safety of dams.
The International Commission On Large Dams (ICOLD) provides a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience in dam engineering. The Organization leads the profession in ensuring that dams are built safely, efficiently, economically, and without detrimental effects on the environment. Its original aim was to encourage advances in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of large dams and their associated civil works, by collecting and disseminating relevant information and by studying related technical questions.
After his election, Mr Sharma while addressing the Asia Pacific Member Countries of the International Commission on Large Dams mentioned that Asia Pacific Group countries are economic power house of the world and his focus would be to make this Group countries as knowledge of hub in the field of dam engineering. Election of Shri Sharma also becomes significant in view of the Dam Safety Act 2021 enacted by the Government of India in December, 2021.
Devendra Kumar Sharma who joined as Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission on 26th September, 2020 has more than 40 years of experience in energy and water resources sectors in India and abroad.
He is also member of the National security Advisory Board in National Security Council, Govt of India and member of the National Committee on Dam Safety. Prior to joining Regulatory Commission, he worked as chairman, Bhakra Beas Management Board, Ministry of Power, Government of India, from April, 2017 to July, 2020 where he was responsible for managing assets of National importance, viz, dams and six power houses of having aggregate capacity of 2919 MW and 3705 km long 400 KV and below transmission system.
Earlier, he was Managing Director of Himachal Power Corporation Ltd. (a Govt. of Himachal Pradesh Undertaking) from september, 2012 to April, 2017.
