46% posts in pollution boards vacant, states and UTs miss NGT deadline to fill these

India’s pollution control boards and committees in states and Union Territories, respectively, failed to meet the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) April 30 deadline to fill the nearly 46% vacant posts in their ranks, The Indian Express reported. 

The newspaper noted that a report submitted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to NGT revealed that 5,401 posts (or 46.53%) of the 11,606 sanctioned posts in 26 states and eight UTs continue to be vacant.

The CPCB’s status report was filed as part of an ongoing suo motu matter in which the tribunal is considering the issue of filling up vacant posts in state pollution control boards (SPCB), pollution control committees (PCC), and the CPCB, and creating adequate infrastructure.

Some of the most industrialised states — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh — and some of the most populous — Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan — have large vacancies in the pollution watchdog bodies, the affidavit showed. Bihar led with 90.47% vacant posts, followed by Uttarakhand (72.62% vacant posts), Andhra Pradesh (71%), Gujarat (60.92%), Karnataka (62.65%), Madhya Pradesh (63.02%) and Odisha (60.04%).

Kochi deep-sea accident: Coast Guard steps up pollution response after cargo ship sinks

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) activated full pollution response preparedness after the Kochi-bound Liberia-flagged MSC ELSA 3 vessel sank off the Kerala coast on May 25, reported Manorama citing the Ministry of Defence said in an official statement.

ICG aircraft equipped with advanced oil spill detection systems are conducting aerial surveillance, while ICG ship Saksham, carrying pollution response equipment, remains deployed at the site. So far, no oil spill has been reported, the statement added.

Twenty one of the 24 crew members—including nationals from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Philippines—had been successfully rescued. Three senior crew members remained onboard to support ongoing salvage efforts.

However, the vessel’s condition worsened overnight. On May 25, the MSC ELSA 3 capsized, forcing the remaining crew to abandon ship. They were rescued by the Indian Navy vessel INS Sujata. Authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of the vessel’s listing.

GEDA invites tenders for solar waste recycling to tackle growing e-waste in Gujarat

The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) invited tenders for solar waste recycling in the state, reported DTE. 

Under this initiative, various research organisations will examine valuable materials extracted from solar and electronic waste. Notably, Gujarat hosts the highest number of solar module manufacturers in India and is home to several large-scale solar projects. 

Researchers will examine valuable materials extracted from solar and electronic waste. GEDA has invited technically and financially capable firms to submit feasibility reports and research studies on recycling materials like silicon, copper, silver, aluminum and rare metals found in solar panels and e-waste.

The project will involve large-scale sampling of waste, particularly damaged solar modules, to test separation techniques. The study will also contribute to guidelines on safe dismantling, regulatory compliance, environmental standards, and worker safety protocols. Additionally, a regulatory body will assess existing national and state laws, recommending policy changes to enable solar waste recycling infrastructure in Gujarat, the report said.

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