Team Herald
PANJIM: A total of 16 candidates, with knowledge of environmental sciences, have applied for the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) chairman post.
The selection committee, headed by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, is however, yet to shortlist any candidate for the post, which had fallen vacant on December 15, 2020.
Since December 2020, the government has been granting extension to the current chairman Ganesh Shetgaonkar. The latest extension in service has been allowed till March 15, 2022.
Speaking to Herald, Minister for Environment Nilesh Cabral said that the government has received total 16 applications for the post of chairman, during the advertisement issued in May.
“The selection committee met once to scrutinise the applications. However, could not shortlist any candidate,” Cabral said adding that the Chief Minister-headed committee will take a call soon.
The Minister said that there are Goans as well as non-Goans, who have applied for the post.
Cabral said that the government was forced to advertise thrice, after it failed to get the desired candidates that could fulfill the criteria.
For the post of chairperson and MS, knowledge of environmental sciences and environmental management has been made mandatory.
Sources informed that with elections due in February 2022, the code may come into force anytime.
“In most probability, the new chairman selection might take place only once the new government is formed,” sources said.
According to new guidelines, there would be 19 members Board instead of 16.
