It?s indeed a pity to witness the state of regulatory authorities in the country. The plight of the newly created regulatory setup in the oil sector?the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) ?came to light when after nearly three months of correspondence with the nodal ministry for something as small as a three-day visit to UK to study the international regulatory practices ? and that too on an invitation from the First Secretary of the British High Commission ? the regulator was unable to secure a clearance for itself and his officials.

To avoid any further ?undue embarrassment?, the regulator finally decided to withdraw the proposal but at the same time conveyed its disappointment to petroleum minister Murli Deora and asked him put in place proper procedures considering the status of an independent regulatory authority. In a recent letter to Deora, PNGRB chairperson L Mansingh said, ?This is with reference to the visit of a delegation led by the chairperson, PNGRB to UK at the invitation of the government of UK. While you had some reservations about the trip, you agreed that we could go ahead and I should convey this to additional secretary of the ministry, which I did. Imagine my surprise, when I was told that the proposal had not been cleared. This caused me avoidable embarrassment and I have withdrawn my proposal in a letter to the ministry on September 25.?

The regulator further said, ?In view of this, a convention should be developed and if the minister in-charge has any reservation about a visit, it should be discussed with the chairperson of PNGRB respecting his status as a independent regulatory authority.?

When contacted, a senior petroleum ministry official said the minister?s approval was required for any visit by the regulator under Rule 8 of the PNGRB Rules, 2006. On his part, Deora had asked the petroleum secretary to examine the proposal in line with the instructions on visits by personnel abroad, as issued by the Cabinet secretariat. However, sources in the regulatory board said the minister?s remarks came only after the regulator spoke to him on September 21.