New Delhi: Central Pollution Control Board, in a report submitted to National Green Tribunal, stated that 292 of the 344 sanctioned posts in Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) have been filled as of April 1. The remaining 52 posts are expected to be filled within three months.NGT was hearing a case regarding vacancies in pollution control boards and committees. The tribunal has been monitoring the vacancies in DPCC since Oct 2023, when nearly two-thirds of its posts were found vacant.In a report dated April 9, CPCB stated that DPCC currently has a vacancy of 15.1%. Contractual employees have also been roped in. “Recruitment of 85 posts (Group B and C) is being done by Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board. Direct recruitment of 28 posts of senior environmental engineer and environmental engineer is being conducted,” it added.Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at think tank Envirocatalysts, said, “State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees have been struggling with manpower shortages for years. As science and technology are evolving, it is necessary for these bodies to have appropriate staffing to deal with environmental matters.” He said that these bodies play an important role in framing policies and monitoring their implementation. Proper staffing strengthens the fight against pollution.For water and wastewater monitoring, there are 67 parameters in total, and Delhi is partially covered with 39 parameters. For solid and solid‑waste monitoring, there are 15 parameters; Delhi has no coverage. Delhi is partially covered with 23 parameters out of a total of 28 parameters for meteorology, air, noise and emissions.
