<p>Bengaluru: In 10 years, new regulations to control pollution and manage waste has increased the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s (KSPCB) workload, but its manpower has shrunk, with six resigning in the last one year.</p>.<p>The board, initially established to implement the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, has seen its responsibilities steadily increase with a spurt of new rules over the last decade.</p>.<p>"From the management of solid waste to plastic waste, construction and demolition waste to electronic waste, the pollution control boards have a huge responsibility in ensuring that the waste produced by the fast-growing cities and industries does not end up stifling them. However, the number of people we have to enforce the rules has fallen to an all-time low,” a source in the KSPCB said.</p>.Zebra dies at Bannerghatta Biological Park; minister seeks report .<p>Documents accessed by DH reveal 453 of 723 KSPCB posts remain vacant as of May 2025. Of the 723 posts sanctioned in 2009-10, 278 were technical, 142 scientific, and 303 non-technical. A whopping 73% of scientific positions and 49% of technical posts are yet to be filled.</p>.<p>A retired officer told DH that the sanctioned posts themselves need an upward revision. "Considering the growth in the number of industries and urbanisation since 2009-10, the government has to take stock of the wide gaps in environment monitoring. Enforcing the environment rules is the best way to protect health,” he said.</p>.<p>An official stated that in 2023, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) began tracking efforts to fill vacancies. Last month, the board reported that no eligible people were available for 138 promotional posts. "Six vacancies have increased due to the resignation of employees," it added.</p>.<p><strong>'Recruitment stalled'</strong></p>.<p>Responding to a query, sources in Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre’s office stated the government has stalled recruitment due to an internal reservation issue.</p>.<p>"Preparations were already made for recruiting for 152 posts. However, we have held back the same. Once the quota matrix is finalised, it will resume,” a source said.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: In 10 years, new regulations to control pollution and manage waste has increased the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s (KSPCB) workload, but its manpower has shrunk, with six resigning in the last one year.</p>.<p>The board, initially established to implement the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, has seen its responsibilities steadily increase with a spurt of new rules over the last decade.</p>.<p>"From the management of solid waste to plastic waste, construction and demolition waste to electronic waste, the pollution control boards have a huge responsibility in ensuring that the waste produced by the fast-growing cities and industries does not end up stifling them. However, the number of people we have to enforce the rules has fallen to an all-time low,” a source in the KSPCB said.</p>.Zebra dies at Bannerghatta Biological Park; minister seeks report .<p>Documents accessed by DH reveal 453 of 723 KSPCB posts remain vacant as of May 2025. Of the 723 posts sanctioned in 2009-10, 278 were technical, 142 scientific, and 303 non-technical. A whopping 73% of scientific positions and 49% of technical posts are yet to be filled.</p>.<p>A retired officer told DH that the sanctioned posts themselves need an upward revision. "Considering the growth in the number of industries and urbanisation since 2009-10, the government has to take stock of the wide gaps in environment monitoring. Enforcing the environment rules is the best way to protect health,” he said.</p>.<p>An official stated that in 2023, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) began tracking efforts to fill vacancies. Last month, the board reported that no eligible people were available for 138 promotional posts. "Six vacancies have increased due to the resignation of employees," it added.</p>.<p><strong>'Recruitment stalled'</strong></p>.<p>Responding to a query, sources in Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre’s office stated the government has stalled recruitment due to an internal reservation issue.</p>.<p>"Preparations were already made for recruiting for 152 posts. However, we have held back the same. Once the quota matrix is finalised, it will resume,” a source said.</p>