NGT sends notice to states over appointments to pollution boards

The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to various states and chairpersons of their pollution control boards who have not been appointed as per the norms laid down by it.

The direction came after the states failed to file a status report, even six months after the deadline, on complying with the guidelines laid down by the tribunal for appointments to their pollution control boards.

The green panel asked them why they should not be directed to cease functioning as chairman of the respective boards for not being appointed in consonance with the judgement of the tribunal. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that three months time was granted to various pollution control boards to make appointments. However, none of the boards have taken effective steps in this regard till date.