Students paint at an event organised in DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir in Ranchi to mark the Earth Day. The state’s green guardian has failed to control pollution levels. Picture by Manik Bose

Ranchi, April 22: Shortage of steady supply of funds, infrastructure and manpower have virtually rendered the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board a “defunct” organisation.

Despite being created about six years ago after the bifurcation of Bihar, the board, which functions under the forest and environment department, has not been able to initiate any significant step to tackle the problem of pollution in the state.

The board is yet to set up any effluent treatment plant in any part of the state. Neither it has been able to locate any site for disposal of solid waste.

Insiders of the board informed that out of 100 engineers that the board should have (the sanctioned strength), it is functioning with just 10-odd engineers.

“So even basic work like keeping an eye on the pollution level in different parts of the state are not being carried out properly. The statistics that we collect are hardly examined for further action,” sources in the board said.

The board officials blamed the government for the present state of affairs. The government, they claimed, has not given a single penny to the board after it was formed.

Of about Rs 4 crore that the board gets by giving licences and renewing them, it has to disburse the funds among establishment cost and salary of employees. And there is hardly any scope for the board to purchase new gadgets and equipment for better functioning.

Last year the Centre had directed the state government to set up an environmental impact assessment authority, which would have qualified members to give green signals to projects after thoroughly scanning the fallout that it could have on environment.

“There has been no move despite our repeated requests. It shows the seriousness of the government on the pollution front,” said a board official.

The chairman of the Assembly committee on environment and senior BJP legislator, Sarayu Roy, feels that the board is not competent enough to discharge its responsibilities.

“There are lots of units, like the crushers and sponge iron units, which are polluting the environment. There is an urgent need for the state government and the pollution control board to act tough against the offenders. But strangely, such units are functioning without any fear,” Roy said.

The Assembly committee on environment is working to garner details about the various pollution levels in different parts of the state.

The findings would be submitted to the House with recommendations.