With new Government in place in Himachal Pradesh, one department is plagued with several ‘frivolous’ complaints written by some anonymous complainants resulting in giving jitters to the senior officials and hampering day-to-day work.
Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board (HPPCB), whose mandate is to ensure implementation of pollution norms in the State and check violations by any industrial houses or any agency by penalizing them, is now failing to deliver for past few months due to laxity in work owing to frivolous complaints against senior officials.
Board officials are finding themselves in a fix due to such complaints written to the State Government by anonymous writers levelling serious allegations. No one has till now claimed the authenticity of the complaints or investigation officers have been able to ascertain the credibility of the letters.
Such are the nature of complaints which have even reached some media houses that the complainant has not even deterred from leveling serious personal charges against officials at the helm.
Sources in the Board, however, blame it to jealousy among Board employees, prejudiced behavior, and clash of interest among employee union and other employees.
“No outsider could be interested in the Board affairs. But, certainly there are some insiders who are writing complaint letters to the State Government owing to their biased behavior and board adopting zero tolerance against corruption,” said an official on condition of anonymity.
Director (environment) SS Negi confirmed that several complaints have reached him for investigation into the content. But, at this point of time, he cannot comment on the status of the complaints. “Yes, some serious allegations have been levelled, but things will be clear only after the investigations are over,” said Negi.
HPPCB member secretary Sanjay Sood also said that he has received information about such complaints and is looking into the matter. “I do not know the nature of complaints but some complaints have come to the notice of the board and no guilty will be spared at any cost,” added Sood.
Sources said that this is not the first time that frivolous complaints are being filed. Some employees had been frequently writing letters to the Government even during the previous BJP Government but after the investigations such complaints were found frivolous and the motive was mere harassment.