3 members keep off first Enron panel meet

3 members keep off first Enron panel meet
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, FEB 14: The much-awaited first meeting of the Madhav Godbole review comittee on Enron held today against the backdrop of protests over its composition, was attended by only two members of the committee, member secretary V M Lal and Godbole himself.

Three other members of the six-member committee, Kirit Parikh, Deepak Parikh, R K Pachauri and E A S Sarma did not attend the meeting.

Anti-Enron activists have strongly opposed the induction of Kirit Parikh and R.K. Pachauri on the committee. But Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today firmly indicated that there would be no change in the choice of members appointed on the panel. Kirit Parikh and Pachauri would stay on the committee, he said.

``We have appointed the committee. Let it take the decision now,''he said. On the absence of members, Deshmukh said Parikh had told him that he would be unable to attend all meetings of the committee.

He also said that the letter handed over to him by PWP leader N.D. Patil on amending the terms of reference of the committee had been passed on to the review committee.

Sources said Godbole and VM Lal were briefed by MSEB chairman Vinay Bansal, secretary N Sainath and other officials today at the review meeting on the electricity board's stand on the controversy. Godbole refused to speak to reporters waiting for him outside the hall after the meeting.

A senior MSEB official said the absent members will attend the meeting of the committee on Thursday.