News Highlight
In the fight against air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the State Pollution Control Boards and the Pollution Control Committees primarily regulate emissions.
Key Takeaway
Their primary role is to regulate emissions from point sources, such as industries and power plants, that contribute substantially to ambient air pollution in urban and rural areas.
The State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB)
- About
- The SPCBs were initially constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974.
- After the enactment of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the enforcing responsibility was entrusted to these Boards.
- Composition
- Respective State Governments nominate the members of State Pollution Control Boards.
- Functions
- Under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981, the SPCB mandate was expanded to include air quality management.
- Apart from the above said Acts, the Board is also enforcing the following Rule and Notifications framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986:
- Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.
- Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006.
- Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- The Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000.
- Construction & Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016
- The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991.
- Fly Ash Notification, 1999 and 2008.
- Non-achievement of objectives
- As environmental indicators such as air quality and water quality worsen in many parts of the country, the Boards fail to discharge their statutory mandate effectively.
Reasons for the non-achievement of objectives of SPCBs
- Composition of SPCBs
- The composition of SPCBs is a matter of serious concern as essential stakeholders and those with crucial expertise are missing in most states.
- Over 50% of the Board members across the 10 SPCBs studied represent potential polluters: local authorities, industries, and public sector corporations.
- They are subject to the SPCB’s regulatory measures, and their overwhelming presence raises fundamental questions about conflicts of interest.
- The SPCB leadership
- The SPCB leadership — the chairperson and the member secretary — do not enjoy a long, stable, and full-time tenure.
- In many States, persons in these two posts hold an additional charge in other government departments.
- Data also show that several chairpersons and member secretaries have held their posts for less than a year.
- For example, the shortest tenure for a chairperson has been 18 days (Chhattisgarh) and 15 days for a member secretary (Haryana and Uttar Pradesh).
- Understaffing
- The SPCBs are critically understaffed. At least 40% of all sanctioned posts are vacant across nine SPCBs/PCCs for which there is data.
- Vacancy levels in technical positions are as high as 84% in Jharkhand and over 75% in Bihar and Haryana.
- An inadequate staff strength forces the Boards to recast their priorities among their various functions.
Way forward
- Role of expertise
- Scientists, medical practitioners, and academics should constitute the Board members.
- It will provide expert knowledge and innovative solutions.
- Independent head
- The chairperson should be an independent officer and give adequate tenure.
- It would help to stay away from policy paralysis and strengthen governance.
- Adequate staffing
- Adequate staff strength means more vital regulatory scrutiny and better impact assessment.
Content Source: The Hindu