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Home Data Reports Pollution control boards across India working under less manpower

Pollution control boards across India working under less manpower

The pollution control boards in India are not able to do their job properly because they do not have enough staff and resources, according to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

ByGround Report Desk
New Update
Pollution control boards across India working under less manpower

The pollution control boards in India are not able to do their job properly because they do not have enough staff and resources, according to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

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The report was submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which is a court that deals with environmental issues. The NGT had taken notice of a news item that said that the pollution control boards were the weak link in the fight against pollution.

The report by the CPCB confirmed the news item and the study. It showed that the pollution control boards across India had 11,969 posts, but only 5,877 of them were filled. This means that more than half of the posts were vacant.

Status of manpower of SPCBs / PCCs

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S. NoStateSanctionedIn placeVacant
1Andhra Pradesh28987202
2Arunachal Pradesh29272
3Assam26417688
4Bihar24947202
5Chhattisgarh32824187
6Goa14012713
7Gujarat831497334
8Haryana450165285
9Himachal Pradesh371221150
10Jharkhand27173198
11Karnataka723290433
12Kerala459224235
13Madhya Pradesh1228459769
14Maharashtra839473366
15Manipur1204773
16Meghalaya1528369
17Mizoram14104
18Nagaland24195
19Odisha442179263
20Punjab652324328
21Rajasthan808332476
22Sikkim18126
23Tamil Nadu987590397
24Telangana230127103
25Tripura28244
26Uttarakhand1305179
27Uttar Pradesh732407325
28West Bengal309178131
Total11,1175,4905,627

Table 2: Pollution Control Committees

S. NoState/UTSanctionedIn placeVacant
1Andaman and Nicobar Islands963
2Chandigarh972
3Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu12210
4Delhi344111233
5Jammu & Kashmir445248197
6Ladakh16313
7Lakshadweep514
8Puducherry1293
Total852387465
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The report also showed that the pollution control boards had many laboratories, but many of them were not accredited by the government or by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), which is an agency that checks the quality of laboratories.

Details of SPCBs and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs

S. NoState/UTSPCBs - CentralSPCBs - RegionalTotal SPCBsEPANABL
1Andhra Pradesh05502
2Arunachal Pradesh11200
3Assam14501
4Bihar14500
5Chhattisgarh16700
6Goa10101
7Gujarat18914
8Haryana13403
9Himachal Pradesh15602
10Jharkhand14500
11Karnataka27910
12Kerala1151610
13Madhya Pradesh1101106
14Maharashtra17853
15Manipur10100
16Meghalaya10101
17Mizoram10100
18Nagaland10100
19Odisha1141501
20Punjab12300
21Rajasthan1121302
22Sikkim10100
23Tamil Nadu1171812
24Telangana12310
25Tripura13400
26Uttarakhand14500
27Uttar Pradesh12223111
28West Bengal15611
Total (A)281601881240
S. NoState/UTPCCs - CentralPCCs - RegionalTotal PCCsEPANABL
1Andaman & Nicobar Islands00000
2Chandigarh01100
3Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu00000
4Delhi10100
5Jammu & Kashmir11200
6Ladakh00000
7Lakshadweep00000
8Puducherry11201
Total (B)33601
Grand Total (A+B)311631941241

NGT guides pollution control boards

The report said that the pollution control boards needed more staff and resources to monitor and control the pollution in the country. Taking cognizance of the severity of the situation, the NGT has issued a series of directives aimed at addressing the systemic shortcomings in pollution control. These directives include:

  1. Urging Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs to address staffing and resource issues within SPCBs and PCCs, including filling vacant positions and procuring necessary equipment.
  2. Directing the CPCB to prepare a format specifying qualifications, eligibility criteria, and experience required for key positions.
  3. Designing a mechanism for annual performance audits of all State PCBs/PCCs.
  4. Exploring the possibility of a central selection mechanism for recruiting suitable candidates.
  5. Emphasizing the need for full-time engagement of key positions within PCBs/PCCs.
  6. Facilitating the utilization of Environmental Compensation funds for laboratory setup/upgradation and other specified areas.
  7. Considering the establishment of a National Environment Data Grid (NEDG) to facilitate better analysis and planning in environmental management.

The NGT's proactive intervention underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in pollution control mechanisms across the country. It is hoped that these measures will pave the way for more effective enforcement of environmental laws and safeguarding of our natural resources for future generations.

The NGT asked the CPCB to take action against the pollution control boards and make them work better. The next hearing of the case is on April 18, 2024.

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