Acute Manpower Crunch Cripples Pollution Control In Gujarat

Akin to the national capital, Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, Vapi, Ankleshwar, Surat, Vadodara, and Gandhinagar have been affected by air pollution.

Environmental expert Mahesh Pandya says, “Green cover in the state is shrinking, and river pollution has thrown a major challenge to the government. In such circumstances, officers and engineers must be recruited promptly in GPCB, in accordance with the sanctioned strength.”

In the GPCB’s 2024-25 Annual Report, which was presented by Member Secretary D.M. Thaker, it has been noted that against the sanctioned staff strength of 866 officers, only 304 officers and employees are currently serving in GPCB. Of the 260 sanctioned posts of Assistant Environmental Engineer, only 72 posts have been filled.

Further, of the 191 Senior Scientific Assistant posts, only 22 have been filled, and of the 25 Senior Scientific Officer posts, only 14 have been filled.

Similarly, only 24 of the total number (39) of positions for Environmental Engineers have been occupied, despite the role being of high significance at GPCB. 

Concerted Efforts

GPCB Chairman R.B. Barad said that with 45 common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) operating across the state, the expansion of multiple-effect evaporators and enhanced waste treatment facilities, including both common and captive treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs), efforts have been stepped up for the treatment of industrial wastewater and waste management.

These initiatives support industrial operations.

As per the report, Principal Secretary of the Forest and Environment Department Sanjiv Kumar called for urgent collective action to tackle climate change, pollution, and resource depletion. 

On the shortage of staff members, the Chairman said that the recruitment process has been underway for 144 Assistant Environmental Engineers, 169 Senior Scientific Assistants, and three Assistant Law Officers.

Operations Hit

Under the Water, Air, and Environmental Protection Act, 25,972 samples were collected in 2023-24, and this rose to 30,429 samples in 2024-25. However, the number of samples collected declined from 4,621 samples (last year) to 3,782 this year.

In hazardous and other waste disposal, only 393 samples were collected, against 504 samples the previous year. Due to inadequate staff, the functioning of the Board’s head office and 27 regional offices has also been severely affected, particularly in processing applications, handling complaints, and issuing notices to violators.