NGT directs SPCB to conduct performance audit within six months

PANJIM: Expressing its complete displeasure over the functioning of the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to conduct a performance audit of all SPCBs across country within six months. 

The direction came after the tribunal noted that people appointed in the Gujarat Pollution Control Board do not have technical or professional qualifications or background as expected.

“There is also need to carry out performance audit of functioning of all the pollution control boards and pollution control committees in the country and to identify remedial steps required in manning and functioning of these boards and committees or otherwise,” the order passed by a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, stated. 

“Unless strong effective regulatory regime is in place, and shortcomings identified and remedied to expect clean environment would be unrealistic and merely a dream,” it added. 

“The CPCB may conduct performance audit of all the state pollution control boards and pollution control committees within six months by constituting appropriate expert inspection teams and furnish a report to this tribunal. The CPCB may consider making performance audit at suitable intervals a regular feature of its working,” the bench, also comprising justices SP Wangdi and K Ramakrishnan, said.

The green panel expressed dissatisfaction over governance on the part of the state pollution control boards and said it has resulted in large number of deaths and diseases in the country and therefore, there is an urgent need to review the qualification and appointment procedure.

NGT directed the Union Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF) to constitute a three-member expert committee to consider steps to be taken for improvement in the effective functioning of the regulatory bodies for protection of the environment.

“The report of the committee may be furnished before the next date. CPCB may consider issuing appropriate directions in exercise of its statutory powers in the light of expert studies which may be carried out,” the bench said. The matter is posted for further consideration on August 19.