Politicians will no longer be eligible to be chairpersons of State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), according to proposed new guidelines, amid rising complaints of ineffective enforcement of environmental regulations.
The new stricter criteria for appointing chairpersons to these critical bodies —responsible for enforcing the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act—are being framed by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC). This move aims to enhance the technical expertise and independence of SPCBs