The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has suspended six officials from its Pune division over complaints of alleged financial transactions linked to the approval process for industrial projects, with an independent departmental inquiry ordered into the matter.
The suspended officials include one regional officer, two sub-regional officers and three field officers, according to official orders cited in a report by Punekar News. The complaints concern the consent approval process that industries must complete to establish and operate their units.
The action followed complaints in which video footage was submitted as supporting evidence. The officials were asked to provide written explanations in response to the complaints. The competent authority rejected their responses after finding them unsatisfactory, leading to suspension orders pending the inquiry.
The departmental investigation will examine the alleged transactions, the role of each official and whether there were any irregularities or misuse of official positions during the industrial clearance process. The inquiry is also expected to assess the evidence submitted with the complaints.
The consent process is a regulatory checkpoint for industries seeking to establish or operate units. It is administered through the pollution control framework and is intended to ensure that industrial activity is assessed against applicable environmental requirements before operations begin or continue. The allegations in this case relate specifically to the conduct of officials involved in that approval process.
During the suspension period, all six officials will be headquartered at the MPCB’s Mumbai office. They will not be permitted to leave the designated headquarters without prior permission from the competent controlling authority. The suspensions will remain in force until further orders.
The board has said that the inquiry will be detailed and impartial and will establish the nature of the alleged transactions and assess the evidence submitted with the complaints. The suspension orders do not establish that the allegations have been proven. Final findings will depend on the outcome of the departmental inquiry.
