Appoint chairman of pollution board in 3 months: NGT to govt

THE GOVERNMENT’S ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY IS GIVEN ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF POLLUTION BOARD CHAIRMAN POST NOW

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has criticised the Delhi government over an ad hoc appointee holding the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s (DPCC) chairman post.

The court asked the government to make a regular appointment within three months. Currently, the government’s environment secretary is doubling up as the chairman.

A vacation bench headed by Justice RS Rathore said the chairman is a “sensitive and responsible” post as the entire environmental status of the state depends on the functioning of the pollution control board.

Despite being one of the most crucial government departments in a highly polluted city such as Delhi, the DPCC is arguably the most short-staffed too.

The DPCC and the environment department have only 37 officials and the staff size hasn’t changed since late 1990s. Though DPCC delegates tasks to various departments, there is no robust mechanism to monitor pollution. The green court warned the government that in case it failed to complete the appointment process of the chairman, then the person now holding the post will cease to function.

The NGT noted that in most state pollution control boards, the chairman’s post is held by persons lacking qualification or experience in the field of environment. “The tribunal cannot remain a silent spectator in respect of improper and illegal working of pollution control board and its consequence to the public at large. It is rather strange that despite being given more than sufficient time, the state did not take steps to implement the tribunal’s judgment on August 24, 2016,” the bench said.

The direction came after the government’s counsel said requisite steps had been taken by the board to appoint the chairman and the issue was awaiting the Central Pollution Control Board’s nod. He assured the bench that the process would be completed soon.