Khattar condoles death of HERC chief Nand Lal Sharma
Synopsis
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on 23 July 2026 condoled the death of Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman of HERC and former CMD of SJVN Limited, praising his contributions to India's hydro and power regulatory sectors.
Key Takeaways
Nand Lal Sharma , Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) and former CMD of SJVN Limited , has passed away.
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expressed condolences on 23 July 2026 via a Hindi post on X.
Sharma was credited with significant contributions to SJVN's development and expansion as its CMD.
SJVN Limited was incorporated in 1988 as a joint venture to execute the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri hydroelectric project.
Sharma's death creates a leadership vacancy at HERC , which regulates electricity tariffs in Haryana .
The Haryana government is expected to notify a new HERC chairperson appointment to maintain regulatory continuity.
Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday, 23 July 2026 expressed deep condolences on the passing of Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) and former CMD of SJVN Limited, calling the loss deeply sorrowful.
Context
Khattar posted a tribute in Hindi on X, stating: 'हरियाणा विद्युत विनियामक आयोग (HERC) के चेयरमैन एवं SJVN के पूर्व सीएमडी, श्री नंद लाल शर्मा जी के निधन का अत्यंत दुःखद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ' ('I have received the deeply sorrowful news of the passing of Shri Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission and former CMD of SJVN'). The minister extended his condolences to Sharma's family and prayed for the departed soul to find peace, closing with 'ॐ शांति' (Om Shanti).
Khattar, who previously served as Chief Minister of Haryana before assuming charge as Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, had direct institutional familiarity with both HERC and the broader northern power sector that Sharma served.
Policy Backdrop
SJVN Limited is a central public sector enterprise incorporated in 1988 as a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh, initially mandated to execute the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri hydroelectric project. Over decades, it expanded into a diversified renewable and hydropower major. Sharma's tenure as CMD was widely credited with accelerating SJVN's development and geographic footprint.
HERC was constituted under the Haryana Electricity Reform Act to oversee tariff determination and sector regulation in the state. Sharma had transitioned from leading a major hydro PSU to heading the state electricity regulator — a trajectory that reflects the broader pattern of senior technical and administrative officers shaping post-reform sector governance following the Electricity Act, 2003.
Stakeholders and Impact
Sharma's passing leaves a vacancy at the helm of HERC at a time when the commission oversees critical tariff proceedings affecting Haryana's electricity consumers and distribution companies. The SJVN board and the wider hydro power community also mourn the loss of a figure who shaped the PSU's capacity addition and project execution record.
Power sector regulators, hydro PSU executives, and Haryana electricity officials are among those directly affected by the leadership gap. Tributes from senior officials underscore Sharma's standing across both the central and state tiers of India's power sector.
What's Next
The Haryana government will need to notify the appointment of a new HERC chairperson to ensure continuity of regulatory proceedings. Any interim arrangement at HERC will be closely watched by utilities and consumer groups in the state. The SJVN board may also mark the occasion formally, given Sharma's foundational role in the organisation's growth.
Point of View
He straddles the state and central tiers that Sharma served across his career. The post signals that Sharma's death is being treated as a significant loss within the power sector establishment, not merely a personal one. It also draws attention to a leadership vacuum at HERC precisely when state electricity regulation demands continuity. The broader pattern — of senior technocrats moving from PSU leadership to regulatory roles — underscores how thinly the talent pool is stretched in India's post-reform power sector.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Nand Lal Sharma?
Nand Lal Sharma was the Chairman of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) and the former Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of SJVN Limited, a central public sector hydroelectric and renewable energy enterprise.
What is SJVN Limited?
SJVN Limited is a central public sector enterprise incorporated in 1988 as a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh, originally set up to execute the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri hydroelectric project and later expanded into a diversified power company.
What is HERC and what does it do?
HERC, the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission, is a state-level statutory body constituted under the Haryana Electricity Reform Act. It is responsible for tariff determination, licensing, and overall regulatory oversight of the electricity sector in Haryana.
Why did Manohar Lal Khattar pay tribute to Nand Lal Sharma?
Khattar, as Union Minister of Power and a former Chief Minister of Haryana, paid tribute recognising Sharma's dual contributions — leading SJVN's growth as CMD and serving as HERC Chairman — both of which fall within his ministerial and prior administrative purview.
What happens to HERC after Nand Lal Sharma's death?
The Haryana government will need to appoint a new HERC chairperson to ensure continuity of the commission's tariff and regulatory proceedings. Until a formal appointment is made, an interim arrangement is expected.
