Shimla
The Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board has celebrated the Golden Jubilee Year of its establishment today, 21st December 2024. To mark the occasion, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, unveiled our Golden Jubilee Environmental Calendar and released the 50-year commemorative logo inscribed on a memento today, on the conclusion of the winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha at Dharamshala on 21st December 2024. The Chief Minister extended his heartfelt congratulations to the State Pollution Control Board on its 50th anniversary and conveyed his best wishes for its continued dedication to preserving the environment.
The commemorative logo shall be used in all our official correspondences during the next year.
The Environmental Calendar of the State Pollution Control Board marks the beginning of its Golden Jubilee Year celebrations, commemorating 50 years since the Board’s establishment on December 21, 1974. Over the coming year, from December 21, 2024, to December 21, 2025, the State Board will celebrate this significant milestone by organizing 50 activities on 50 environmentally significant dates that reflect its commitment to environmental stewardship.
In addition to the above, all the regional offices and laboratories of the State Board marked the occasion by undertaking cleanliness drives surrounding their office premises across 20 locations in the state.
This is pertinent to mention that consequent to promulgation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the State Government notified the constitution of H. P. State Pollution Control Board for Prevention and Control of Pollution on 21-12-1974 in the Gazette of State Government.
Soon after constitution on 21st December 2024, the State Board started its functioning from the office of Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department. In the year 1979 the State Board had its first independent office in a private building named “Manjil” near US Club, Shimla thereafter moved to “Taksal House”, Near Kasumpti in 1981. The State Board shifted to another accommodation in the Hotel Kings, The Mall, Shimla in the year 1985. This remained the headquarters of the State Board up to 2001. Due to expansion in the mandate and consequent increase in manpower, the inadequacy of accommodation necessitated the search for alternate office space, and the search ended in finding accommodation in Phase-III, Himuda Colony, New Shimla. As such, the headquarters of the State Board shifted to this place in 2001 and continues to serve the people of the state from this place till date.
The State Board proposes to felicitate all its retirees soon who have been pillars and strength for the journey of 50 years by organizing an event sometime during the latter half of January or first half of February wherein a coffee table book and a commemorative video shall also be released. Over the past 50 years, the State Board has experienced significant growth in its technical and scientific expertise, as well as its environmental and physical infrastructure, enabling it to address environmental challenges with greater efficiency and transparency.
