Himachal Electricity Regulatory Commission chief Devendra Kumar Sharma elected president of International Commission on Large Dams
Devendra Kumar Sharma, chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission, was elected president of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) during its 93rd annual meeting and 28th Congress held at Chengdu in China on Tuesday.
ICOLD, with 106 member countries including India, facilitates global exchange of knowledge on dam planning, design, construction, and safety. Established in 1928, it provides a platform for advancing dam engineering practices, promoting safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility in dam construction and operation.
India has been a member since 1930, and Sharma is only the second Indian to be elected president in the organisation's history. He served as vice-president of ICOLD in 2019 in Ottawa, Canada.
In an address to ICOLD member countries following his election, Sharma said his appointment from a developing country signified a shift in the organisation's outlook. He said he would work on dam safety, gender diversity, participation of under-represented national committees, challenges of climate change for dams, hydropower development in underutilised regions, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.
Hailing from Mehrin Kathla (Khasri) village in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district, Sharma has over 43 years of experience in the energy and water resources sectors in India and abroad. He is also a member of the National Security Advisory Board under the National Security Council.
Before joining the regulatory commission, he served as chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board, managing critical national assets including major dams and powerhouses. From 2012 to 2017, he was managing director of Himachal Power Corporation Ltd, a state public sector undertaking.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
BRS MLA from Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills, Maganti Gopinath passes away
HYDERABAD: BRS MLA from Jubilee Hills, Maganti Gopinath, passed away at a corporate hospital on Sunday morning. Gopinath , who suffered a massive heart attack on June 5, was undergoing treatment and breathed his last at 5.45 am. The three-time MLA from Jubilee Hills had been suffering from various health issues over the past year. The 62-year-old Gopinath, who was serving as the president of the Greater Hyderabad BRS wing and MLA of Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency, began his political journey with the Telugu Desam Party in 1983. He served as president of the TDP youth wing, Telugu Yuvatha, from 1985 to 1992 and also held the post of TDP Hyderabad district president. Gopinath worked as director of the then Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for two years, from 1987 to 1989. He was also a member of the Hyderabad District Consumer Forum. As an MLA, Gopinath won for the first time in 2014 on a TDP ticket and later joined the BRS. He went on to contest and win on a BRS ticket again in the 2018 and 2023 Assembly polls. In the 2023 election, he defeated former Indian cricket captain Mohd Azharuddin by a margin of 16,000 votes. He is survived by his wife, Sunitha, son Vatsalyanath, and two daughters, Akshata and Disira. BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, working president K T Rama Rao, Union minister G Kishan Reddy, and former ministers T Harish Rao and Talasani Srinivas Yadav were among several leaders who condoled the MLA's death.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Mahua Moitra Shares Joyous Wedding Dance Video With Her Husband Pinaki Misra
Last Updated: Mahua Moitra married Pinaki Misra in Germany. A video of their wedding dance went viral, showcasing their love. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra recently tied the knot with senior advocate and former BJD MP Pinaki Misra in a private ceremony in Germany. Now, a heartwarming video of the couple's wedding dance has gone viral on social media. In the video, Mahua Moitra and Pinaki Misra can be seen dancing together, lost in the moment and enjoying each other's company. The video showcases their love and chemistry and has captured the hearts of many on social media. Mahua Moitra shared the video on her social media status, giving her fans and followers a glimpse into her special day. The video has been widely shared and has garnered many congratulatory messages for the newlyweds. Misra is wearing a light peach-coloured Nehru jacket over a traditional kurta. Mahua Moitra, born on October 12, 1974, in Assam, transitioned from a successful investment banking career to politics. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Mathematics from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, USA, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Moitra joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2010, led by Mamata Banerjee, and made her electoral debut in 2019, winning from the Karimpur assembly constituency in West Bengal. Moitra, known for her fiery speeches in Parliament, was elected twice from West Bengal's Krishnanagar seat. During her first term as MP, she was disqualified over 'cash-for-query" allegations. As one of TMC's prominent parliamentarians, she's renowned for her passionate speeches and incisive arguments, often targeting the BJP-led government. Her articulate critiques have garnered national attention, cementing her reputation as a formidable voice in Indian politics. Pinaki Misra, born on October 23, 1959, in Puri, Odisha, holds a BA (Hons) in History from St. Stephen's College and an LLB from the University of Delhi's Faculty of Law. Misra's political journey began with the Indian National Congress, winning his first election from the Puri Lok Sabha constituency in 1996. He later joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) under Naveen Patnaik's leadership and has since been re-elected multiple times – in 2009, 2014, and 2019. Throughout his tenure, Misra has played a key role in various parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committee on Finance, Business Advisory Committee, and committees related to defence, civil aviation, and law and justice. First Published: June 08, 2025, 08:19 IST
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
India is the 5th largest economy, so it makes sense: Canada's Mark Carney backs PM Modi's G7 invite despite tensions
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has firmly defended his invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis , Alberta, from 15–17 June. Carney said India's presence is essential for discussions on global priorities such as energy security, critical minerals, and infrastructure partnerships. 'India is the fifth largest economy in the world, effectively the most populous country in the world, central to a number of those supply chains at the heart of a number of those supply chains, so it makes sense,' Carney said in a media interaction on Friday. The G7 Summit will focus on pressing international concerns including artificial intelligence, climate action, digital development, and cooperation with emerging economies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Strong push from G6 countries to include India Vina Nadjibulla, Vice President of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, added that the decision to include India wasn't solely Canada's. 'In terms of the G7, we are the outlier because the other six members of the G7 are interested in deepening their strategic partnerships with India, deepening their defence technology and economic ties. In fact, every day there is a new announcement about either France or UK or US doing more with India,' she told CBC News Network. Live Events She continued, 'So having India there also matters to everybody else. I think there was a strong push from other G6 to have India at the table. And I think in order for Canada also to be able to show relevance on the world stage, we can't just engage in diplomacy with those whom we like. I mean, this is not… diplomacy is not a gift to our friends. It's not a concession. It's a necessary tool to be able to advance our interests and defend our values, right?' PM Modi confirms participation Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation, expressing appreciation in a post on X. 'Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark J Carney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit.' A strained backdrop: Nijjar's killing and diplomatic rift This invitation comes at a time when India–Canada ties remain deeply strained. Tensions escalated after the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar , a Canadian citizen and vocal pro-Khalistan activist, outside a gurdwara in Vancouver. Canadian authorities accused Indian agents of involvement, a charge India categorically denied. The result was a diplomatic standoff, with both countries expelling senior envoys in a tit-for-tat move. When asked whether he believed PM Modi was linked to Nijjar's murder, Carney declined to speculate. 'There is a legal process that is literally underway and quite advanced in Canada… It's never appropriate to make comments with respect to those legal processes,' he said. Four Indian nationals have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder, and investigations continue. Sikh organisations oppose Modi's presence The World Sikh Organization has criticised the decision to invite Modi. Its president, Dinesh Singh, told The Guardian, 'This is a betrayal, not just of our community, but core Canadian values.' These reactions underscore a larger discontent among Sikh Canadians who have accused Ottawa of ignoring community concerns in favour of geopolitical strategy. Despite the rift, Carney said there had been some improvement in bilateral cooperation. 'In addition, bilaterally we have now agreed importantly to continued law enforcement to law enforcement dialogue so there's been some progress on that recognises issues of accountability. I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context and he has accepted.' Carney also noted that inviting India to such global platforms helps Canada maintain relevance internationally. Other guest nations at G7 2025 India isn't the only non-G7 country invited to this year's summit. Canada has also extended invitations to: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (pending confirmation) For Carney and his G7 counterparts, engaging with India appears to be a strategic necessity, regardless of domestic backlash. As the summit approaches, New Delhi's role in global supply chains and economic governance seems to outweigh diplomatic discomfort. Whether this G7 appearance eases bilateral tensions or deepens divisions at home remains to be seen. But for now, both sides appear to have chosen pragmatism over grievance.
