THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI:
Delay over appointment of new Chairman and Member Secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has forced the government to extend the term of the existing Board by another three months or till the time the new Board is re-constituted.
The-three-year-long term of the incumbent Board under Chairman Mahesh Patil and member secretary Shamila Monteiro ended on January, 6 2025. The Board under Patil was constituted in January, 2022.
“In order to maintain continuity in the smooth functioning of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), the term of the Board is extended for a period of 3 months w.e.f. 06-01-2025 or upto the date of notification of the re-constitution of the Goa State Pollution Control Board, whichever is earlier,” said, Director Environment Johnson Fernandes in a notification issued.
In October, last year, the environment department had invited applications from interested and eligible candidates for the post of chairman and member secretary of GSPCB. The last date to apply for the post is November 14.
Following poor response, the department issued fresh advertisements in December.
The knowledge of environmental sciences and environmental management has been made mandatory. The candidate has to also be a resident of Goa for at least 15 years, and the knowledge of Konkani is mandatory and that of Marathi is desirable.
According to the new guidelines released in 2021, there would be a 19-member Board instead of 16 members that includes chairperson, member secretary and 17 members to be nominated by the State government to represent the interests of agriculture, fishery or industry or trade and local authorities functioning within the State.
