In a surprise move, the Government of Karnataka drastically altered recently the distribution of authority within the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the sole environmental regulator in the state. After having appointed a new chairman a few months ago, the government has now amended the rules to give most day-to-day powers to the member-secretary. The government’s move appears to be due to its discomfiture in centralisation of authority with the chairman who is not a bureaucrat. But it could be counter-productive if not balanced by other much needed changes. The decision also raises questions about the governance structure of PCBs in the entire country.