Panaji (GOA): It’s been more than a year now that the State’s crucial pollution control authority- Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB)- is functioning without a full-time Chairman and Member Secretary on board. Even after being pulled up by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over its failure to hold fresh appointments, the Goa government continues to drag its feet.
The post of Chairman is been vacant since March 2016 after former chairman Jose Manual Noronha was transferred as chairman of the Goa Public Service Commission. At the same time, the three-year tenure of the existing GSPCB and its MS Levinson Martins ended in June 2016.
The Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharam is holding the additional charge as the chairman of the Board while senior engineer Shivanand Salelkar is the acting MS.
The NGT on August 23, 2016 in a countrywide order made special knowledge or practical experience in the environment protection studies for both the posts mandatory and since then, Government is struggling to get qualified persons on Board.
Further, the appoints were also caught in limbo due to the State Assembly election code of conduct which was in force fromJanuary 4 to March 11 followed by panchayat election code from May 18 to July 2.
Following NGT order, the State Environment Department had invited applications for both the posts in November 2016-by drafting special recruitment rules. Total 22 candidates had applied for both the posts- 13 for the post of chairman and nine for MS- that include former scientists, academicians and bureaucrats holding wither Masters of PhD degree in Chemistry or environment and having work experience of over 10 years.
“However, the government was not satisfied with qualification of those applied for the post and accordingly went for re-advertised the post in May. Total 26 applications have come which are currently under scrutiny,” a senior official said.
Interestingly, the Environment portfolio is currently with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Government has appointed three-member selection committee to shortlist the candidates for both the posts.
In a fresh order, NGT has now asked the States to file an affidavit within one week giving details about the new appointments and whether they are as per the guidelines set by them.
Team TNV
