A recent Right to Information (RTI) query has revealed a critical and alarming staff shortage at the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB), raising serious questions about the state’s ability to protect its fragile and ecologically sensitive environment. According to the information obtained by a Noida-based activist, the UKPCB is currently operating with just 48 employees against a sanctioned strength of 130, representing a massive shortfall of nearly 63 per cent. This significant gap in human resources is most acutely felt in the field, where regional offices responsible for monitoring vast and sensitive areas are severely understaffed, compromising their capacity for effective regulation.
The data reveals that regional offices in key areas, including Dehradun (which also covers Kedarnath), Kashipur (monitoring the Terai and industrial zones), Roorkee (overseeing the industrial belt in Garhwal), and Haldwani (responsible for the Kumaon region), have only two staff members each. This glaring deficiency has a direct and detrimental impact on the board’s core functions, which include monitoring environmental data, enforcing pollution norms, and responding to violations. The UKPCB’s mandate is crucial for a state like Uttarakhand, which is home to the source of several major rivers, sensitive forest ecosystems, and sacred pilgrimage sites that draw millions of visitors annually.
The problem is a long-standing one, with the board having functioned with a limited workforce since its inception. When Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000, 25 staff members were initially transferred to the new state. However, the situation has worsened over the years as 13 of those original employees have since retired, further deepening the shortfall. This has created a critical institutional void that the board has struggled to fill. Officials have acknowledged the shortage but have stated that some staff have been outsourced or deputed from other departments to meet urgent needs. The UKPCB secretary has also stated that a draft of new service rules for the board has been prepared and is awaiting clearance from the state cabinet, a move that could potentially help address the staffing crisis in the long run.
Environmental activists and experts have expressed alarm at the findings, arguing that in a state prone to landslides, flash floods, and other natural calamities, an understaffed environmental watchdog poses a significant risk. The Himalayas are a geologically young and unstable mountain chain, and the combination of natural vulnerabilities with human activity and the impacts of climate change, such as erratic and intense rainfall, makes robust environmental monitoring more critical than ever. The current staffing levels make it nearly impossible for the UKPCB to carry out its statutory duties effectively, leaving the state’s natural resources and public health at risk. Experts are calling for immediate and decisive action from the government to fill the vacant positions and provide the board with the resources it needs to fulfil its mandate.
