l Most of the spcbs have chairpersons and member secretaries, the most important posts in the board, from the administrative or even forest service. These officers do not have requisite technical knowledge in pollution control.

l Presence of members representing the polluting public sector units in the spcbs make enforcement weak.

l The SPCBs have to file a case related to polluting industry in the lower courts, which are too busy to devote enough time to environment related litigations.

l The SPCBs in India are not empowered to impose fines.

l The SPCBs are expected to function as statutory autonomous bodies, but are treated as "subordinate' organisations by the state governments.