New Delhi, July 21 -- The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has green-lit a proposal to restructure the boards of NTPC subsidiaries THDC India Ltd (THDCIL) and North Eastern Electric Power Corp. Ltd (NEEPCO), making them "leaner" amid a push for hydropower projects along India's eastern and north-western borders.

In a communication dated 18 July to the union ministry of power, reviewed by Mint, DPE agreed with the ministry's proposal for having a non-executive chairperson and re-designation of the post of managing director on the board of NEEPCO and THDCIL.

When implemented, the chairman and managing director of India's largest power generation utility NTPC Ltd will not have operational control of these strategic hydropower firms a...