Expressing surprise over the “arbitrary” manner in which appointments to all state pollution boards are being done, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday restrained the state governments from se
Expressing surprise over the “arbitrary” manner in which appointments to all state pollution boards are being done, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday restrained the state governments from selecting posts of chairman and member secretary in their respective pollution control boards.
“You (boards) are saying that appointments are being made after taking into account the special knowledge or practical experience in dealing with matters of environment. But, there has to be some fundamental qualification at the outset. You cannot go on like this. All the state governments are directed not to appoint chairman and member secretary of state pollution control boards till the matter is decided by us,” a bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar said in an oral order. The tribunal had last year directed the environment ministry to submit detailed information about members and office-bearers of all state pollution control boards on their designation, experience and qualifications.
In a separate hearing, the green body sought a detailed report from civic agencies regarding worsening air pollution and traffic chaos near the Kaushambi Bus Terminal, which is just few meters away from Anand Vihar.
The NGT, after constituting a committee of officials from Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Uttar Pollution Control Board, ordered them to conduct an inspection and submit report within three weeks. “The committee shall inspect the site in question and also take ambient air quality samples. They shall find out different sources of air pollution, including vehicular pollution, resulting from jams in the area,” the bench said while posting the matter for next hearing on April 21.
The tribunal was acting on a plea filed by Kaushambi Apartments Residents’ Welfare Association, which had contended that the presence of two bus terminus (Anand Vihar and Kaushambi) within 200 metres of each other has aggravated air pollution in the area.
