Born on 6th April’1945, Shri Yogendra Prasad did his graduation in Electrical Engineering from M.I.T, Muzzafarpur, Bihar. He joined Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) in 1968 as Engineer Assistant. During his tenure in BSEB, he was entrusted with some very challenging assignments in construction of transmission lines and substations with almost non-achievable completion targets. He however accomplished the tasks assigned to the astonishment of the entire BSEB. He received a special award in 1976 from BSEB for his outstanding contributions and achievements – the first in the history of BSEB.

Shri Yogendra Prasad joined NHPC in 1978 as Assistant Manager and climbed the career ladder with meteoric rise and occupied the highest post in the entire corporate world as Chairman and Managing Director (NHPC), a schedule ‘A’ enterprise of Government of India in Oct.’1997 i.e. in a span of less than 20 years, at the age of 52 year, the youngest regular CMD in the 25 years history of NHPC.

The career canvas of Shri Yogendra Prasad contains several significant and valuable contribution in the power sector – initially in planning and executing the complex and vast 400 KV system in West Bengal and Bihar which brought about dramatic changes in the power scene of the 2 states. Recently, commissioning of 132 KV S/C Gelephu-Tingtibi-Nanglam Transmission Line (Bhutan) in record time is another significant contribution.

By his untiring and sustained efforts, he brought the neglected hydropower to the center stage and took up many hydro projects – some for detailed survey and investigations and many for execution. Under his dynamic leadership, NHPC spread out with missionary zeal to the remote unaccessible and in some very hostile and formidable places in Arunachal Pradesh (Subansiri & Dihang Projects), Sikkim (Teesta V–510 MW), insurgent infested Manipur (Loktak down stream), Dulhasti and 7 other projects in the dreaded areas of J&K with militant’s activities, difficult sites in the Parbati basin in H.P. (Parbati Stage-II and Parbati Stage-III) and several others in U.P, M.P, W.Bengal etc. By his unrelenting persuation, he paved the path for execution of Cauvery basin projects which had remained deadlocked in inter-state disputes for more than 5 decades. He rekindled hydro activities and established the presence of NHPC in every part in India. Sh. Yogendra Prasad is leading NHPC by leaps and bounds towards prosperity with International exposure in the field of Engineering & Design, Information Technology and Project Monitoring.

Shri Yogendra Prasad’s impossible achievements stem from his humanitarian approach and understanding of human problems and human weaknesses and dealing with these with sympathy & kindness on one hand and sternness and firmness on the other. Shri Yogendra Prasad had ensured complete industrial peace and enlisted full support from the entire work force even though he did not hesitate to take unpleasant action in the interest of national work. He has demonstrated faith in the employees of the corporation for their ability to perform to the best of their potentials. This has motivated all employees and created an ambiance for the better performance.

Shri Yogendra Prasad has held many ex-office positions and is at present the President of the Indian Adhering Committee of International Tunneling Association, India, Chairman of Indian Chapter of International Hydropower Association (IHA), Life Member of the Committee for International Conference on Large High Voltage Electric System (CIGRE), Member of Indian Council for Arbitration, Member of Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP).

He is also the Chairman of the Narmada Hydro Development Corporation (NHDC), a joint venture of NHPC and Govt. of M.P. to develop Narmada Basin Hydro Projects. He has also been entrusted with the additional responsibility of Chariman and Managing Director of NJPC, a corporation facing backbreaking due to flash floods of Aug’2000. Within a short period of few months the project is dawning fast track progress.

In recognition of his valuable contributions to the Indian power sector in general and hydro development in particular, he has been felicitated with several awards from National and International organizations. He was crowned with an award from International Management Centre, U.S.A, with commissioning of Honorary Texan by the Governor of Texas, U.S.A. To name a few, he received the prestigious Diamond Jubilee award of Central Board of Irrigation and Power for the year 1998-99. The crowning glory was when he received the award of the Institution of Engineers for his contribution towards “Hydro development in the Country” from the Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the World Congress on Sustainable Development on 20.01.2000. “The leading Engineering Personality in the field of Power Development” by Institution of Engineers, India, Indo-German Greentech Environment Excellence award for the year 2000-2001 and “Distinguished fellow” award for the year 2001 from Institute of Directors, New Delhi, India are some of other awards that add to his credit. Recently he has received Eminent engineer Award for significant contribution to the advancement and application of practice of engineering in India from the Institution of Engineers, Delhi State Centre for the year 2001.
Courtesy: www.nhpcindia.com

Dr. Giridhari (Giri) Agrawal is a world leader and has 30+ years of experience in foil air bearing technology and high-speed turbomachinery. He pioneered the development of high speed rotating machines supported on foil air bearings which are used in air cycle machines of all modern aircraft, civil or military. Dr. Giri Agrawal performed the pioneering foil bearing work at Honeywell from 1971-1979. He supported AiResearch Phoenix in development of foil bearings for advanced engines. In 1979, he joined Hamilton Standard, where he invented the second generation of foil air bearing which are used on 747, B-1B, B-2, 777 and other aircraft.

He was awarded the George Mead Medal, the highest technical award, by the Board of Directors of United Technology Corporation for his work in foil bearings. In 1990 Dr. Giri Agrawal founded R&D Dynamics with the intention of extending the air bearing technology to rotating machines other than air cycle machines. It is at R&D Dynamics that Dr. Giri Agrawal invented and patented the third generation of foil bearing technology suitable for gas turbine applications.

Today R&D Dynamics is a world class center for research, development and production manufacturing of high-speed small turbomachinery for aerospace and commercial applications.
Courtesy: www.asme.org