Team Herald

PANJIM: Goa Biodiversity Board member secretary Pradip Sarmokadam and TERI state convener Dr Fraddry D’Souza are amongst four candidates who have been shortlisted for the post of Member Secretary (MS) of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). There are also three names from the field of environment that have been shortlisted for the post of Chairman. 

Following the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order in August, last year, making special knowledge or practical experience in the environment protection studies mandatory for the post of Chairman and MS of all State pollution control boards, GSPCB had invited applications for both posts in November 2016 after drafting special recruitment rules.

There were 22 applications for the two posts – 13 for the post of chairman and nine for MS – that include former scientists, academicians and bureaucrats holding either Masters or PhD degrees in Chemistry or environment and having work experience of over 10 years. 

“The file is yet to be put up before the government for a decision. It may take place after the election code of conduct is lifted,” a senior official said, adding that the candidates were shortlisted before the code of conduct was announced on January 4. 

The post of Chairman has been vacant since March last year after former chairman Jose Manuel Noronha was appointed as chairman of the Goa Public Service Commission. The three-year tenure of the existing GSPCB and its MS, Levinson Martins, ended in June.