Kochi: Protests are mounting over the state government’s decision to allow PCB chairman K. Sajeevan to continue despite serious corruption allegations and vigilance cases against him.
Though the National Green Tribunal has asked him to leave from the post of on June 8, the government failed to find a replacement and allowed him to continue in violation of norms.
“There are reports that the state government will be given another three-year extension to Mr Sajeevan as PCB chief. He has already completed 34 years in service and served as chairman for eight years. There are widespread complaints against him over violation of norms in issuing and renewing licences to industrial units, giving environmental awards to industries, appointments of consultancies, appointments of staff and project implementation,” said an official at PCB on condition of anonymity.
In October last year, to a question raised by P.T. Thomas MLA in the Assembly, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government had given him an extension in December 2015 and his term will end on December 1, 2017. The government has allowed him to continue as the NGT has removed its earlier reference against him, the chief minister said.
He also said that based on the NGT directive, the government had initiated steps to form rules and regulations for the appointment of PCB chairman and member secretary.
Mr Sajeevan has been at the centre of a row over the three extensions that have allowed him to continue in office since 2013. He was first appointed in 2010, got an extension in 2013, followed by two more in 2014 and 2015.
Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Central Range, had recently registered a case against him for misusing power to renew the licence of Sree Sakthi Paper Mills at Edayar in violation of norms.
Meanwhile, a group of employees under the banner Save PCB Forum has demanded his immediate removal. “It will be a violation of the promise given by the chief minister in the Assembly if he gives him another extension,” added the official.
