Himachal Electricity Regulatory Commission chief Devendra Kumar Sharma elected president of International Commission on Large Dams
ICOLD, with 106 member countries including India, facilitates global exchange of knowledge on dam planning, design, construction, and safety. Established in 1928, it provides a platform for advancing dam engineering practices, promoting safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility in dam construction and operation.
India has been a member since 1930, and Sharma is only the second Indian to be elected president in the organisation's history. He served as vice-president of ICOLD in 2019 in Ottawa, Canada.
In an address to ICOLD member countries following his election, Sharma said his appointment from a developing country signified a shift in the organisation's outlook. He said he would work on dam safety, gender diversity, participation of under-represented national committees, challenges of climate change for dams, hydropower development in underutilised regions, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.
Hailing from Mehrin Kathla (Khasri) village in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district, Sharma has over 43 years of experience in the energy and water resources sectors in India and abroad. He is also a member of the National Security Advisory Board under the National Security Council.
Before joining the regulatory commission, he served as chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board, managing critical national assets including major dams and powerhouses. From 2012 to 2017, he was managing director of Himachal Power Corporation Ltd, a state public sector undertaking.
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