NEW DELHI: Jagdish Khattar took over as second managing director of Maruti Udyog Limited on Thursday but his role in the company vis-a-vis the present managing director RSSLN Bhaskarudu is yet to be spelled out. Industry circles, however, feel Khattar would become more involved with day-to-day operations of the company in over the next couple of months.

Khattar has been appointed the second MD under the agreement between the government and Suzuki Motors of Japan last year. The government entered into the agreement in a bid to resolve the impasse following appointment of Bhaskarudu as the managing director. Suzuki had contested the appointment in ICC court in Paris. However, both the parties decided to call it truce after the government agreed to slash Bhaskarudu's tenure till December 31, 1999.

As per agreement, Khattar will take over as managing director of Maruti on January 1, 2000. "With Maruti's export market stagnating in view of increased global competition,Bhaskarudu is likely to focus on export sales," said an industry watcher. It may be noted that Bhaskaradu was in Europe recently, visiting countries such as Germany, France.

Chemtech honours Darbari, Parvinder

MUMBAI: Chairman-Emeritus of Tata Chemicals (TCL) Darbari Seth was presented `hall of fame' award for his life-time contribution to chemical industry by Chemtech on Wednesday.

Parvinder Singh, Chairman, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd was presented `Achiever of the Year' award, while Dr TSR Prasada Rao, former Director of Indian Institute of Petroleum, and R P Kapoor, Associate Director, reactor maintenance group of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research received awards for their outstanding contribution to science.