Narla Tata Rao


Narla Tata Rao was a prominent person in the power sector of India and a former chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board.

Personal

Tata Rao was born on 4 September 1917 in Kowtharam in Krishna district. After early education in Andhra, he graduated in engineering from Banares Hindu University in 1941 and obtained MS in power systems engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL.
Tata Rao built the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board from scratch in 1958. The late K.L. Rao appointed him as Member of the Central Water and Power Commission in 1972. However, Jalagam Vengala Rao spared no efforts to get Tata Rao to the State in August 1974. Tata Rao became synonymous with the energy sector in Andhra Pradesh. He increased the installed capacity of the State grid five-fold by conceiving giant generation projects like Vijayawada Thermal Station, Nagarjunasagar, Srisailam and Lower Sileru.
He formed a strong base for the State's electricity sector, which is now considered one of the best in the country. He won several awards at national and international levels, including Padma Shri.
Former Positions
  1. Chairman Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board
  2. Member Central water & Power Commission
  3. Vice Chairman, Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board
  4. Chairman, Committee on Super Thermal Stations. Govt. of India
  5. Chairman, Energy Research Committee of CSIR, Govt. of India
  6. Consultant, Asian Development Bank – Reorganisation Bangladesh Power Development Board
  7. Member, Rajadhyaksha Committee on Power Govt. of India
  8. Chairman, Expert Group on Development of Power Technology in the Future Planning Commission Govt. of India
  9. Member, Atomic Power Authority. Govt. of India
  10. Member, Energy Policy Committee. Govt. of India
  11. Director, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. Govt. of India
  12. Director, Andhra Bank Limited.
  13. Director, Bharat Aluminum Co. Ltd. Govt. of India
  14. Director, Hyderabad Allwyn Metal Works. Govt. of A.P
  15. Director, A.P Industrial Development Corporation. Govt. of A.P
  16. Director, M/s Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd. Govt. of A.P
  17. Director, A.P. Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. Govt. of A.P
  18. Director, A.P. Non Resident Indian Investment Corporation. Govt. of India
  19. Director, M/s Southern Transformers & Elec. Ltd. Govt. of A.P
  20. Director of Gangappa Cables Co. Limited
  21. Chairman, Lakshmi Porcelains Ltd
  22. Chairman, Asian Coffee Co. Ltd
  23. Chairman, Bhasker Palace Hotels Ltd
  24. President, Central Board of irrigation and Power
  25. Chairman, National Council of Power Utilities
  26. Member, CIGRE Study Committee No. 37 and 31
  27. Chairman, Amar Raja Power Systems Limited
  28. Chairman, VBC Ferro Alloys Co. Ltd
  29. Director, Ultimo Polymers
  30. Director, A.P. Paper Mills
  31. Member, A.P. State Council of Higher Education. Govt. of A.P

    Awards and honours

  32. Padmashri Award from the President of India – 1983
  33. Andhra Pradesh State Government Award Distinguished Service – April 1981
  34. Bharat Ratna Sri M. Visveswarayya Award for the year 1985 of insti. Of Engineers and Govt of A.P.
  35. Om Prakash Bhasin Award of the Year – 1986.
  36. Golden Jubilee Award of Central Board of Irrigation and Power – 1978
  37. Scroll of Honour Institute of Engineers -1986
  38. Honorary Member, Electrical Engineering Association and General Science Association, Sigma XI