50% posts in state pollution boards vacant, govts blame poll code, insufficient funds

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has for the third time apprised the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that half of the sanctioned posts in state pollution control boards (SPCBs) and pollution control committees (PCCs) across the country are lying vacant.

According to an affidavit submitted by the CPCB to the NGT, of 11,562 sanctioned posts in all SPCBs and PCCs, 5,671 (49.04%) are vacant. These include posts of scientist and technical and administrative staff which are crucial to test water samples and particulate matter to measure the extent of air pollution.

While a few states have said the recruitment for vacant posts could not be carried out as the service exams had not been held, others have also stated that elections had led to the postponement of exams. In other states, their respective governments are yet to approve the recruitments.

Against sanctioned 652 posts in the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), 309 are vacant. “In Punjab, Groups A and B vacant posts are to be filled by the Punjab Public Service Commission, and Groups C and D are filled by the Punjab Subordinate Service Selection Board. Due to technical and administrative reasons, the process for filling up these posts could not be completed in time. The selection process was stalled due to the enforcement of model code of conduct for four months during the General Election,” Punjab government said in a report to CPCB.

“The PPCB has requested the state’s service commission and subordinate service selection board to fast track the recruitment process. The PPCB is considering the restructuring of various posts related to its functioning,” the government added.

Haryana said it could not find persons with requisite experience to fill up vacant persons. Of 450 sanctioned posts, 273 are vacant in the state. In an affidavit to the NGT, the Sikkim Government said the recruitment process had been kept on hold because the state had not been able to allocate funds. J&K and Ladakh, where 135 and 11 posts are vacant, respectively, are yet to finalise the rules for recruitment. They said that they were in the process of restructuring their pollution control boards.

The NGT had on September 11 directed all states and UTs to fill vacant posts by April 30 next year. The directive, however, does not include Punjab, Delhi and Haryana. Vacancies in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi are already the subject of an ongoing litigation in the Supreme Court.