RK Dutta, first Managing Director of NRL, passes away at the age of 75

New Delhi: RK Dutta, the first Managing Director of Numaligarh Refinery Limited (from August 1995 to April 2002) passed away on May 19 in Kolkata after a brief illness. He was 75. Dutta also held the position of CMD of Oil India Limited (from May 2002 till his superannuation in February 2006). His wife Julie Dutta predeceased him last year.

Dutta has considered a colossus in the Oil and Gas industry in the country and his contribution to the development of the oil and gas industry in the north-east is unparalleled. He was one of the rare professionals in the Indian oil industry who had worked, headed and excelled in all the streams of the oil industry, i.e., downstream, upstream and midstream.

Dutta started his career with Assam Oil Company, Digboi- the birthplace of the oil industry in India. As a hardcore oil marketing professional, he expanded Assam Oil's penetration in retail marketing by building up retail outlets, developing fleet owners, building storage and supply terminals all over North East India. One of his biggest achievements was the introduction of LPG in the army cookhouses in 1985. Assam Oil was the first company to introduce this green fuel in the cook houses of the army at a time when the general perception was to use kerosene or firewood as a kitchen fuel all over the country. Dutta was able to strengthen and spread the marketing network throughout North-Eastern India and the visibility of its logo of the charging one horn rhino is seen even today all across the north-eastern region. He headed the organisation for 11 long years till 1995.

ALSO READ: 

1. AAI's Member (HR) Anuj Aggarwal passes away, he was 58

2. Power Grid's former CMD SK Chaturvedi passes away, he was 71

In 1995, Dutta was handpicked by the government to head the historic 'Assam Accord' refinery now known as Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL). He not only constructed and commissioned the refinery within its scheduled time but also created a new company – a PSU which is a glowing example of a successful business enterprise in the region. Dutta possessed an inherent 'risk-taking capability and also took hard decisions, whenever required while maintaining the essential qualities of humility and courtesy. He was a humanitarian to the core and maintained the highest standard of honesty and integrity and always led by example.

"The state of Assam in particular and the Indian Oil Industry, in general, is much poorer by his demise" a press statement released by NRL concluded.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. You may follow us on Google News. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)