Gurgaon: Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) is functioning with 27 sanctioned posts lying vacant and 41 officials on deputation, while seven officers have been assigned additional charge alongside their regular responsibilities.The figures are part of an RTI response issued by HSPCB on Sept 2 and assume significance in light of a National Green Tribunal (NGT) direction issued in April 2023 on strengthening pollution control boards. The tribunal had said key regulatory positions, including regional officers, engineers and scientists, should be full-time and incumbents should not be given any additional charge.Despite the direction, HSPCB said it had not sent any requisition to Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) or Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) to fill the vacant posts. It also said no requisition had been sent to the concerned departments or the govt to increase the number of sanctioned posts.The tribunal also called for action plans to fill vacant posts with competent persons. An exception was made for states with no significant environmental issues, which could seek exemption from Central Pollution Control Board by providing justification.For Gurgaon, the immediate concern is the availability of dedicated regulatory oversight. The executive engineer holding additional charge of Gurgaon South has responsibilities beyond the regional office, according to the RTI response. Such an arrangement could limit the time available for inspections, follow-up on pollution complaints, compliance scrutiny and enforcement.Against a sanctioned strength of 483, the board has 27 vacancies, including seven senior scientists, five environmental engineers and five scientist-B posts. The vacancy list also includes two chief scientific officers, two assistant environmental engineers, two private secretaries, two assistant district attorneys, one district attorney and one accounts officer.The vacancies in technical cadres are also significant because engineers and scientists play a key role in pollution-control work, including inspections, assessment of violations, monitoring and technical decisions. The issue assumes added importance as the region heads towards the winter smog season.The RTI response lists 41 officials posted on deputation. These include six executive engineers, 20 assistant environmental engineers, two senior scientists, one scientist-C, two scientist-B, five assistants and five other officials.The seven executive engineers posted at the HSPCB head office have also been assigned additional charge as regional officers in different parts of Haryana. Gurgaon South is among the regions listed, along with Kaithal, Mahendragarh, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Fatehabad and Ambala.RTI applicant Varun Gulati said the staffing arrangement raised concerns over the board’s capacity to carry out its regulatory functions. “The govt needs to urgently fill the vacancies and ensure that the pollution regulator has adequate dedicated technical manpower,” he said.
