Over 50 posts vacant in PCB, says report

Over 50 posts in the categories of scientific, engineering, and administration remain vacant in the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) as of November 30, 2025, according to official estimates.

Of the total vacant seats, 19 are in the scientific category; 11 in the engineering wing; and 23 in the administration section, as per a report furnished by the board before the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal dated December 18, 2025.

The tribunal had asked the State Pollution Control Boards to submit details of vacant posts, citing its inference that manpower shortages had affected their functioning. The Kerala board said it was awaiting government nod to fill the posts. The Bench had also directed the boards to update the status of laboratory analytical facilities in the format prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board.

In the scientific category, 91 posts were sanctioned, of which 72 had been filled as of November 30, 2025. The report stated that appointments to six junior scientific assistant posts were awaiting approval from the Kerala State Public Service Commission (KPSC). A total of 13 Environmental Scientist and Assistant Environmental Scientist posts remained vacant due to a lack of promotions from the feeder categories of Assistant Environmental Scientist and Assistant Scientist, respectively. Of the 11 vacancies in the engineering category, appointment orders were issued for four posts based on KPSC advice.

According to the report, some facilities and equipment not available in the board’s labs included a flow meter to measure water flow, a diesel exhaust analyser, an Orsat apparatus (used to analyse a gas sample for oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide content), and an integrating sound level meter to measure instantaneous sound levels.