Total of 35 key environmental scientist posts are lying vacant for more than two years
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Chennai: The Tamil Nadu pollution control board (TNPCB) laboratories in the state are facing severe staff crunch, hampering their operations. A total of 35 key environmental scientist posts are lying vacant for more than two years.The TNPCB operates five advanced environmental laboratories and 10 district environmental laboratories. Laboratory branch is headed by the deputy director (labs), who are assisted by the scientific officers at different levels.
The role of environmental scientist is pivotal for functioning of these labs. It is the environmental scientist who actually does the field work on most occasions and analyses the samples collected.Reliable sources in TNP CB told DC that the advanced environmental laboratory in Chennai receives around 300 complainants on an average per month pertaining to water pollution and there are only 2-3 environmental scientists for sample collection and analysis.
Likewise, every other laboratory gets 200 complaints each month. Last year, 24,000 water samples testing were done with 40 personnel! “Though Central pollution control board (CP CB) has set a target of 40,000 sample testing per year, we are helpless due to staff shortage,” an official said on condition of anonymity. The problem is TNPCB can recruit people through employment exchange offices. A board official says the em ployment exchange offices are sending candidate profiles whose age is above 55 years. The post of a environmental scientist involves a lot of field work and is labour intensive.
The scientist will have to climb the stacks, collect samples from inhospitable conditions, which at times is risky. “A 55-year-old person can’t do all these things. Candidates below 45 years of age can only fit into these posts. We have written to the state government in the regard around 8 months back, but there is no response,” sources said.
When contacted, Dr K. Ranganathan, director (labs), TNPCB, denied saying the operations are not really hampered. However, he said the state government expressed its commitment to fill the posts. “Now, we are permitted to recruit people through public advertisement, which will be done shortly.”
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