Govt yet to decide on GSPCB new chief, member secretary

PANAJI

The three-month extension granted to the existing Chairman Mahesh Patil led Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is set to end on April 4, with the State government yet to decide on the new Chairman and Member Secretary.

The Board under Patil was constituted in January 2022. However, delay over appointment of new Chairman and Member Secretary – currently held by Shamila Monteiro, 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.

Sources confirmed that the government is yet to take a decision. “The extension will end on April 4. The government has not taken any call on the new Chairman and MS,” sources said adding further extension to the Board will hamper the functioning.

Names of Patil, Additional Collector (South) Srinit Kothwale, Biodiversity Board member secretary Pradeep Sarmokadam and Commissioner Labour and Employment Levinson Martins are amongst eight candidates who have qualified for the post of Chairman.

The other eligible candidates include former Board Chairman Ganesh Shetgaonkar, who had held the position before Patil from 2019 till December 2021, HOD Humanities and Science department of Government Polytechnic Dr Dipak Gaitonde and Professor and Head mining Engineering department of GCE Dr Ulhas Sawaikar.

Meanwhile five people have applied for the Member Secretary post that includes sitting MS Shamila Monteiro. Senior Environment Engineer in GSPCB Sanjeev Joglekar and Administrator of Comunidade Geeta Nagvenkar are other two eligible applicants.

Scientist at GSPCB Jenica Sequeira has also qualified for the post.  

Executive Director in Maharashtra State Power Generation, Mumbai Dr Nitin Wagh has applied for both Chairman and Member Secretary position.