Byrnihat – In response to rising concerns over severe air pollution, the Meghalaya government has ordered an urgent audit of all industrial units in Byrnihat.
The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has been tasked with inspecting the units and submitting a report within seven days, as directed by Pravin Bakshi, Commissioner and Secretary for Forest & Environment.
This decision follows alarming media reports highlighting dangerously high pollution levels in the region. According to IQAir’s World Air Quality Report 2024, the average PM2.5 concentration in Byrnihat was recorded at 128.2 µg/m³, raising concerns over deteriorating air quality.
However, in the Meghalaya Assembly, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma refuted these claims, referencing data from the MSPCB that recorded a significantly lower annual average PM2.5 concentration of 50.1 µg/m³ for 2024. He also stated that air quality data from early 2025 indicated ‘satisfactory’ conditions.
Recent surprise inspections by the MSPCB at industrial units in EPIP and 13th Mile in January and February 2025 uncovered serious violations, including excessive emissions and malfunctioning pollution control devices. As a result, seven industrial units received closure notices, and two others were fined for environmental compensation.
Despite these actions, pollution levels in the region continue to be a significant issue. Additionally, air quality data from the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) in Byrnihat, Assam, consistently recorded ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ air quality, suggesting that emissions from industries in Assam also contribute significantly to the problem. The Byrnihat Industrial Area in Assam has already been classified as a Critically Polluted Area (CPA) by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), with 20 ‘Red Category’ industries operating there, compared to only five on the Meghalaya side.
In response to the situation, the Assam Pollution Control Board has developed an action plan following directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and CPCB. Meanwhile, the Meghalaya government is intensifying enforcement measures to mitigate industrial emissions.
To identify major sources of pollution, the MSPCB has commissioned the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) to conduct an Emission Inventory and Source Apportionment study. The study, aimed at identifying and quantifying pollution sources, has been completed, with the final report awaiting release.
Recognizing the need for inter-state cooperation, Chief Minister Sangma has reached out to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging joint efforts to tackle the pollution issue in the region. Both states are expected to ramp up monitoring and enforcement actions in the coming weeks to address industrial emissions and improve air quality.
Read More: Assam: POCSO Convict Escapes from Kokrajhar District Jail, Investigation Underway