Eligibility rules bypassed, government appoints Sena leader Kadam’s son as MPCB chairman

Kadam is 41 years old and is the younger son of Ramdas Kadam who was the state’s former Environment Minister under the under the previous BJP-Shiv Sena government.

Ramdas Kadam Thursday had lashed out at the BJP alleging that it was shortchanging the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the seat sharing talks for the Lok Sabha elections.

The Maharashtra government on March 6 issued a gazette notification removing the previous incumbent IAS officer A L Jarhad from the post, citing “the chairman is absent for a long period without any reason from the office”.

Jarhad was appointed the MPCB chairman on September 7, 2021.

The notification mentions that “in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 4 and sub-section (3) and (6) of section 5 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and in pursuance of rule 3 of the Maharashtra Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1983” Kadam has been nominated as the chairman of the board.

On March 18, 2021, the Maharashtra Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (First Amendment) Rules, 2021 were notified specifying the eligibility criteria for the appointment of chairman.

The rules setting eligibility for the post mandate “twenty five years of experience in respect of matters relating to environmental protection or in administering institutions dealing with the matters relating to environmental protection on the senior managerial post”.

In case of government officials being appointed at the place, the rules said: “He is or has been in Indian Administrative Service, who is holding or has held the post in the rank of the Secretary or above, and possesses a Degree in Science or Engineering and has knowledge in respect of matters relating to environment protection and experience in administering institutions or Departments of the Central Government or State Government or Public Sector Undertakings dealing with the matters relating to environmental protection.”

About the education qualification, the rules mandate holding a Master’s Degree in Science relating to Environment or Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering in a discipline relating to Environment or Civil or Chemical from a recognized University or Institute.

One of the former MPCB chairmen on the condition of anonymity said that the Supreme Court has set guidelines with regard to the appointments on such important posts.

“We cannot neglect it. There was a case against the previous chairman as well over the eligibility criteria and same may happen here as well,” he said.

Siddhesh Kadam said that the government knows better than any of us.

“The government had sought all the papers from me before appointing me. My appointment would not have happened had I not fulfilled the criteria for this post. It is the government which takes the decision and it knows better than any of us,” he said.

Kadam added that he is not only a science graduate and have masters degree but has worked on environmental issues in India as well as abroad.

Neither the Chief Minister’s office nor the environment department responded to the query regarding the issue despite repeated calls and message. When contacted, Chief Secretary Nitin Kareer said that he is currently out of town and is not aware of the development.