The West Bengal government's department of environment has decided to stop funding the state pollution control board for 3 years, during which the board is expected to set its house in order and exploit its full revenue-generation potential. A recent review by the department has come down heavily on the performance and capabilities of the 16 year-old board.
The loss of several crores of revenue, the review says, indicates the failure on part of the board to function in a technically competent manner. The review recommends an overhaul of the staffing pattern geared to perform complex technical functions. It also recommends improved revenue collection, surveying and testing, R&D and consultancy assignments.
The review comes at a time when the board has been hauled up by the Subject Committee on Environment of the West Bengal Assembly. The committee had commented that it "is at a loss as to why there should be a dearth of funds for implementation of various environmental pollution schemes in the state when the House has already approved the allocations".
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