36% posts in HP Pollution Control Board vacant: Affidavit in NGT
Kullu : The Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB) has 137 vacancies against 376 sanctioned posts, including 50 in its scientific wing , according to an affidavit filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The board had filled 239 posts as on Oct 1, 2026, leaving 36.4% of its sanctioned strength vacant, joint member secretary Gopal Chand Gautam stated in the updated affidavit.
Of the 104 sanctioned scientific posts, only 54 have been filled. The engineering wing has 43 personnel against 79 sanctioned posts, while the administrative category has 142 employees against 193 sanctioned posts.
Recruitment for 46 posts across categories is being processed through the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission , Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Ayog and the ex-Servicemen cell, the affidavit said.
The board’s filled strength has increased by 16 since Jan 1, 2025, when 223 posts were occupied. It also cited difficulties in filling promotional posts because eligible employees at lower levels did not meet the prescribed length-of-service criteria.
The affidavit also informed the tribunal that all six HPSPCB laboratories had secured accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The Dharamshala laboratory received accreditation on Sept 15, completing the process for facilities at Parwanoo, Shimla, Paonta Sahib, Una, Sundernagar and Dharamshala.
The laboratories can monitor 67 water and wastewater parameters, 15 relating to solid waste, noise and meteorology, and 28 concerning air and waste emissions. The board has 11 types of equipment for sampling water, wastewater, soil and hazardous waste, and 22 for sampling ambient air and monitoring source emissions.
The board said its laboratories had the equipment to analyse environmental parameters relevant to industries in the state. Samples requiring specialised tests unavailable in-house were sent to other accredited laboratories.
All six laboratories have been recognised as state board laboratories under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The Shimla laboratory was notified as the state water and air laboratory on Jan 9, 2025, and is now functional.
In Nov 2023, the NGT had taken suo motu cognisance of a report highlighting infrastructure gaps in pollution control boards across the country, including HPSPCB, and directed them to submit details of sanctioned and working strength.
The board had filled 239 posts as on Oct 1, 2026, leaving 36.4% of its sanctioned strength vacant, joint member secretary Gopal Chand Gautam stated in the updated affidavit.
Of the 104 sanctioned scientific posts, only 54 have been filled. The engineering wing has 43 personnel against 79 sanctioned posts, while the administrative category has 142 employees against 193 sanctioned posts.
Recruitment for 46 posts across categories is being processed through the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission , Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Ayog and the ex-Servicemen cell, the affidavit said.
The board’s filled strength has increased by 16 since Jan 1, 2025, when 223 posts were occupied. It also cited difficulties in filling promotional posts because eligible employees at lower levels did not meet the prescribed length-of-service criteria.
The affidavit also informed the tribunal that all six HPSPCB laboratories had secured accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). The Dharamshala laboratory received accreditation on Sept 15, completing the process for facilities at Parwanoo, Shimla, Paonta Sahib, Una, Sundernagar and Dharamshala.
The laboratories can monitor 67 water and wastewater parameters, 15 relating to solid waste, noise and meteorology, and 28 concerning air and waste emissions. The board has 11 types of equipment for sampling water, wastewater, soil and hazardous waste, and 22 for sampling ambient air and monitoring source emissions.
The board said its laboratories had the equipment to analyse environmental parameters relevant to industries in the state. Samples requiring specialised tests unavailable in-house were sent to other accredited laboratories.
All six laboratories have been recognised as state board laboratories under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The Shimla laboratory was notified as the state water and air laboratory on Jan 9, 2025, and is now functional.
In Nov 2023, the NGT had taken suo motu cognisance of a report highlighting infrastructure gaps in pollution control boards across the country, including HPSPCB, and directed them to submit details of sanctioned and working strength.
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