According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), out of 2,228 posts across 12 states and two union territories, only 167 have been filled, reported the Indian Express.
The board filed an affidavit in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) reflecting the tardy progress in filling up vacancies across pollution control boards in the country in compliance with a NGT order, the report said.
NGT had directed all states, except Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, to fill vacant posts by April 30, 2025. The NGT’s direction left out states falling in the National Capital Region as a Supreme Court order of August 27 had already covered them, the report explained.
Top court pulls up Maharashtra govt over waste management fund shortage
The Supreme Court questioned the Maharashtra government over not allotting funds for the solid waste treatment plants in Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation and directed them to file an affidavit specifying when the funds would be released. The Court also asked the state to specify how many municipal corporations have complied with the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, Business Standard and LiveLaw reported.
The bench asked: “Where is the money going? Is it the stand of the state government that you are not in a position to pay for these two projects which are essential for the implementation of the 2016 rules? We will go into the larger aspect, where the money is going? Tell us when you will pay?”
Study: Daily PM2.5 estimates in India reveal inequalities in recent enhancement of air quality
According to a new study PM2.5 concentrations in India increased across most of the country until around 2016 and then declined partly due to favorable meteorology in southern India. The study found that recent reductions in PM2.5 were substantially larger in wealthier areas. The researchers said this highlighted the urgency of air quality control policies addressing all socioeconomic communities.
The researchers proposed that to advance equitable air quality monitoring authorities should install additional monitor locations in India and examine the adaptability of their method to other countries with scarce monitoring data.
Green court raps Centre over construction violations on Yamuna flood plain
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Centre to deconcretise six ongoing Yamuna projects and include the suggestions by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). The Centre’s Delhi Development Authority has been asked to include different levels of deconcretisation in six of the ongoing projects on the Yamuna floodplains, reported the HT.
The newspaper added that NGT cited construction violations against the tribunal’s 2015 order wherein guidelines were issued for regulating the construction on the Yamuna floodplains. These guidelines had said that no permanent structures or concretisation are allowed in the floodplain, barring in exceptional cases. NGT further ordered DDA to comply with remedial actions suggested by NMCG, who had in October reported that all these projects have deconcretisation involved.
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