Delhi Struggles with Pollution Amid Staff Shortages at DPCC

New Delhi: The national capital continues to grapple with severe air pollution, and the situation is further complicated by multiple vacancies in the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). The lack of staff is hampering the effective implementation of pollution control policies, experts say.

Staff Shortages Affect Policy Implementation
Residents and environmental activists have raised concerns that the DPCC is unable to fully enforce its policies due to the shortage of technical personnel. Several key positions, including Environmental Engineers and Scientists, remain vacant, reducing the agency’s operational capacity.

DPCC Issues Recruitment Notification
In response, the DPCC has issued a notification to fill vacant positions on a deputation and short-term contract basis. The posts include seven Senior Environmental Engineers, 17 Environmental Engineers, one Senior Scientist, two Scientist-B positions, and three Scientific Assistants, among others. Eligible officers and officials from central/state governments, Union Territories, recognized research institutes, autonomous bodies, statutory organizations, and PSUs can apply.

Applications will be reviewed in three phases:

• Phase 1: Applications received by 30 Nov
• Phase 2: Applications received by 15 Dec
• Phase 3: Applications received by 31 Dec

Vacancies Highlighted in CPCB Report
In May, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported to the National Green Tribunal that of the 344 sanctioned DPCC posts, at least 189 remained vacant. This gap has affected the agency’s ability to monitor pollution in real-time and enforce environmental regulations effectively.

Impact on Enforcement and Public Health
Environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari explained that due to staff shortages, field inspections are limited, and action against industries or construction sites violating pollution norms is delayed. Technical vacancies mean that crucial monitoring activities, such as air quality assessment, waste management audits, and industrial emission oversight, are not conducted effectively.

She further noted that insufficient coordination with central agencies delays policy enforcement and reduces the committee’s capacity to develop evidence-based action plans. “A weakened DPCC fails to enforce environmental laws, directly affecting public health and prolonging poor air quality in Delhi,” Kandhari added.

Conclusion
Experts emphasize that filling these technical and enforcement positions is critical to improving air quality in Delhi. Without adequate staffing, the city’s pollution control measures remain limited, leaving millions exposed to hazardous air for prolonged periods.