Team Herald
PANJIM: A month after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the States, granting them three months, to draft and notify rules for the appointments of Chairmen and Member Secretaries of State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) across the country, Goa government is of the view that the existing rules satisfy the NGT directives.
The understanding of the government is that the existing rules satisfy the NGT directives, as such, there is no need to draft fresh rules under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981,
“I don’t think there is any need to draft fresh rules for the appointments of Chairman and Member Secretary. The existing rules are drafted as per Supreme Court guidelines, which in the past had said that only experts should head such major posts,” Environment Minister Rajendra Arlekar told Herald.
Arlekar said the government will soon release advertisements calling for applications from candidates for the post. “We will implement NGT order in toto. We still have two months time left,” he said.
Earlier, highly placed source confirmed to Herald that the Environment Department, which is a statutory body to draft rules, is yet to initiate the process. “The process is yet to begin. The Secretary Environment has not issued directions to the department for initiating the exercise. The draft rules will be later vetted by the Law Department,” sources said.
NGT on August 24 had made special knowledge or practical experience in environment protection studies mandatory for the post of Chairman and Member Secretary of SPCBs. States were also asked to draft new rules under Water and Air Act.
