Against the backdrop of the controversial Antrix-Devas deal, government has initiated reform measures and asked Space Commission to regularly review the functioning of ISRO and its commercial arm Antrix.
“It has been decided that the Space Commission will regularly review the functioning of the Department of Space (DoS), ISRO and Antrix,” Minister of State in the PMO V. Narayanasamy told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The Space Commission, the policy making body for space-related issues, has also been asked to undertake appropriate peer reviews periodically in respect of governance and systemic reforms, he said.
Mr. Narayanasamy said several steps for improvement in the functioning and efficacy of the Space Commission have been put in place.
The Antrix Board was reconstituted with the appointment of full time Chairman-cum-Managing Director. V S Hegde, scientific secretary at ISRO, has been appointed as CMD Antrix Corporation with effect from July 7.
“Two officers at the level of Director have been appointed in the Department of Space to look after projects, procurement and matters relating to Antrix and legal matters and contracts,” Mr. Narayanasamy said.
In order to facilitate co-ordination between the DoS and Antrix, a co-ordination management committee headed by Secretary, DoS has been set up, he said.
The minister said the INSAT Coordination Committee has also been reconstituted.
The Space Commission had recommended a structural revamp of Antrix against the backdrop of its controversial deal with Devas Multimedia to lease out bulk transponders on two satellites to the private firm.
