HILLONG: The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved the transfer of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MPSCB) from under the administrative control of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department to the Forests and Environment department, after ‘due deliberation’, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma informed after a Cabinet meeting here on Friday.
Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong informed that the decision to attach the MPSCB with the Forests and Environment department was taken in accordance with a proposal to arm the Board with more teeth to take action against violators who flout environmental norms.
MSPCB has been under the direct control of the PHE since its inception in 1983.
“The primary role of the Board is to address issues concerning the environment. The different laws and acts passed by the State legislature on the MPSCB are more relevant with subjects of the Forests and Environment department,” Tynsong said.
The MSPCB is also all set to get an administrative overhaul as the Government has decided to appoint an officer not below the rank of Chief Conservator of Forests to run the Board.
Presently, two important posts in the MSPCB are being headed by senior officials in the PHE. The post of Chairman is being headed by an officer in the rank of Additional Chief Engineer while an officer in the rank of Executive Engineer is the member secretary.
Meanwhile, Tynsong refused to answer queries on whether the Government had decided to appoint retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, TTC Marak, as Chairman of the MSPCB, saying that he had no information on the same
