Submit fresh report on hirings in 6 weeks, NGT asks pollution board

Gurgaon: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to submit within six weeks a fresh report on recent recruitments to fill 85% of posts lying vacant for years.
The tribunal was responding to a report submitted by Haryana govt, which said it had recruited officials in the pollution board and filled 85% of posts.This report, however, did not specify how these newly recruited employees had been divided across departments. A closer look revealed that the number of people inducted into Group D posts had exceeded the sanctioned strength. On the contrary, several positions in Group A, B and C categories were yet to be filled, raising questions on the purpose of the recruitment drive. The NGT was hearing a petition by an environmentalist, Varun Gulati, who alleged that 303 of 481 HSPCB posts were lying vacant across all 22 districts of the state, hindering the work to tackle rising pollution levels. Pulled up over its efforts in fighting foul air at various platforms, the pollution board has often cited lack of manpower.
On Jan 29, the state govt informed the NGT 11 scientists had joined the pollution board in September last year and 54 assistant environmental engineers would be inducted soon.
Going through the report, the NGT said it lacked crucial details regarding the recruitments, such as specific designations, and emphasised on the need for transparency and accuracy in numbers.
“A perusal of the above report reveals that so far as Group D post is concerned, HSPCB has exceeded the sanction strength and so far as Group A, B and C are concerned, posts are still lying vacant,” the bench of NGT chairperson Prakash Shrivastava, judicial magistrate Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel observed.
“Hence, HSPCB is directed to produce information in tabulated form based upon the details contained in the schedule to the recruitment rules showing sanctioned posts for each category of posts and its vacancy position and steps which are taken to fill it up and also time schedule to complete the process of appointment,” the green tribunal added. “Normally, recruitment rules exist, and the schedule attached to the recruitment rules contains details of the sanctioned strength post-wise and manner of filling up of the posts either by deputation, direct recruitment or promotion.” The next hearing was scheduled for April 10.
HSPCB officials said they would fill the remaining posts soon. “Look, a hiring process takes time. We are taking all measures to fill the posts at the earliest,” a senior official said.
The vacant posts, officials said, include those for scientists, assistant environment engineers, senior scientific assistants and clerks. These officials are responsible for monitoring the air quality levels, carrying out inspections, conducting surprise checks and collecting samples. Senior officials are authorised to impose penalties and initiate criminal prosecution against violators.